University  of  California. 

FROM   THE    LIBRARY    OF 

DR.    FRANCIS     LIEBER, 
Professor  of  History  and  Law  in  Columbia  College,  New  York. 

' 


THE   GIFT  OF 

LEL    REESE, 

T  Of  San  Francis. 

1373. 


HISTORY 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 


COMMENCEMENT  IN  THE  YEAR  OF  OUR  LORD  1685, 
TO  THE  YEAR  1842. 

TO  WHICH  SEVERAL 

APPENDICES  ARE  ADDED, 

CONTAINING-  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE    FIRST    SYNOD,  AND  STATISTI- 
CAL TABLES  OF  THE  NUMBER  OF  CHURCHES  AND  MEMBERS  IN  CON- 
-       NEXION    WITH    THE    DIFFERENT    ACKNOWLEDGED     LUTHERAN 
SYNODS  ;     THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARIES    AND   OTHER 
INSTITUTIONS    UNDER    THE    CARE    OF  THE  AMER- 
ICAN LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  AS  ALSO  THE 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  SYNOD. 


'     ERNEST  L.HAZELIUS,  D.D. 
is 

Prof,  of  Theology  in  the  Theo.  Sem.  of  the  Luth.  Synod 
of  South  Carolina. 


ZANESVILLE,    O: 

FEINTED    BY    EDWIN    C.     CHURCH. 
1846, 


Copy  right  secured. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

page 

From  the  first  settlements  of  Germans  in  the  British  colonies 
of  North  America  to  the  arrival  of  Pastor  Melchior  Muh- 
lenbergin  Philadelphia— From  1685  to  1742.  i  47 

SECTION  i.  The  political  and  geographical  state  of  Germany 
at  the  time  of  the  first  emigration  of  Germans  to  the  Brit- 
ish North  American  Colonies.  Page  1 — 16. 

SEC.  ii.  Religious  state  of  Germany  at  the  time  of  the  first 
emigrations  of  Germans  to  America.  Page  17 — 21. 

SEC.  in  Causes  of  emigration  from  Germany  to  America,  and 
first  settlements  of  Germans  in  the  British  colonies,  p  22,3  4. 

SEC.  iv.  Moral  and  religious  state  of  the  first  emigrants. 
p.  35—47. 

CHAPTER  II. 

From  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Melchior  Muhlenberg  in  Philadel- 
phia, to  the  first  Synod  of  the  American  Lutheran  church 
held  in  Philadelphia  in  the  year  1748 — from  1742  to 
1748.  48—65 

CHAPTER  III. 

From  the  first  Synod  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  North  Amer- 
ica~to  the  declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  from  1748  to  1776.  66-104 

CHAPTER  IV. 

From  the  declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  North  America  to  the  commencement  of  the  19th 
century— From  1776  to  1801.  105-123 


CHAPTER  V. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  19th  century  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  General  Synod— From  1801  to  1821.        124-158 

CHAPTER  VI. 

From  the  establishment  of  a  General  Synod  jto  the  centen- 
nary  year  1842.  159-260 

APPENDICES. 

1.  Ministerial  regulations  of  the  German  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran  congregations  in  Pennsylvania  and  the   adjacent 
States. — Being  the  ground  work  of  every  Synodical  con- 
stitution since  formed.  261-279 

2.  Statistical  table  of  the  American  Lutheran  church,  co- 
pied from  the  minutes  of  the  different  Synods  of  the  latest 
dates  that  could  be  obtained,  given  in  the  order  of  time, 

in  which  these  Synods  have  been  formed.  280-282 

3.  Statistical  account  of  the    Theological  Seminaries  of  the 
American  Lutheran  church,   and  of  other  Literary  institu- 
tions in  connexion  with  said  church,  in  the  order  of  the 
time  of  their  establishment.  283-295 

4.  The  constitution  of  the  General  Synod.  296-300 


PREFACE. 


WHEN  a  historical  work  is  offered  to  the  public,  the  inquiry  is 
just  and  equitable,  are  the  sources,  from  which  the  information 
is  drawn,  which  is  given,  authentic  or  not  ?  And  it  is  the  duty 
of  every  author  to  satisfy  the  reader,  that  he  is  not  perusing  a 
fictitious  story,  but  authentic  facts.  We  therefore  deem  it  like- 
wise our  duty,  to  say  in  a  few  words,  from  what  sources  we  have 
drawn  our  information. 

The  Geographical  and  Statistical  notices  of  the  first  section  of 
the  first  chapter  are  translated  extracts  from  Bushing's  large  Geog- 
raphy and  Statistics  of  Germany.  The  second  section  of  the 
said  chapter,  containing  a  brief  account  of  the  religious  state  of 
Germany  in  the  17th  century  and  earlier,  is  chiefly  taken  from 
Arnold's  Church  History.  The  contents  of  the  third  section  are 
principally  drawn  from  the  letters  and  accounts  of  the  first  min- 
isters sent  to  America  collected  in  two  works,  the  one  bearing 
the  title:  "  Nachrichten  aus  P  ennsylvanien,  "  i.e.  "Accounts 
from  Pennsylvania,9'  given  by  Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg  and  oth- 
ers to  the  Theological  faculty  at  Halle  in  Germany,  as  well  as 
to  private  friends,  collected  and  edited  by  the  superintendents 
of  the  Halle  Orphan  house  ;  the  other  bears  the  title:  "Nach- 
richten von  der  ersten  Niederlassung  der  Saltzburger  Emigranten 
in  Georgien,"  i.  e.  "Accounts  of  the  first  settlements  of  the 
Salzburg  emigrants  in  Georgia,  "  likewise  edited  by  the;0rphan 
house  of  Halle.  The  narrative  of  later  occurrences  in  the 
church  is  drawn  from  the  Synodical  minutes  of  the  different 
Synods,  from  the  Lutheran  Intelligencer,  the  Lutheran  Magazine, 
the  Lutheran  Observer,  the  Lutheran  Standard ;  and  1  embrace 
this  opportunity  also,  to  express  my  thanks  to  those  brethren, 
who  have  been  kind  enough,  to  furnish  me  with  interesting 
sketches  of  the  lives  of  departed  ministers  of  our  church,  which 


VI  RECOMMENDATIONS. 

are  faithfully  given  in  the  work,  now  offered  to  the  Lutheran 
church  and  to  all  others,  who  desire  to  become  truly  acquainted 
with  a  body  of  Christians,  who  have  but  too  frequently  been  con- 
sidered by  their  Protestant  brethren  as  next  door  neighbors  to 
Romanists.  Our  sincere  desire  is,  that  the  Christian  spirit,  ap- 
parent in  the  lives  and  labors  of  the  Fathers  of  the  American 
church,  may  animate  its  present  and  future  Pastors,  to  tread  in 
the  steps  of  zeal  and  devotedness,  exhibited  by  these  faithful 
servants  of  our  Redeemer,  and  that  our  beloved  people  may 
learn  from  the  same  source,  that  they  are  built  "on  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Prophets  and  Apostles,  of  which  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
chief  corner  stone,  so  that  they  may  not  be  driven  to  and  fro  by  ev- 
ery wind  of  doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of  men,  and  cunning  crafti- 
ness, whereby  they  lie  in  wait  to  deceive,  but  may  grow  up  unto 
HIM,  in  all  things,  which  is  the  head,  even  Christ,  from  whom  the 
whole  body  fitly  joined  together  and  compacted,  by  that,  which  every 
joint  supplieth,  according  to  the  effectual  working  in  the  measure 
of  cvej'y  part,  maketh  increase  of  the  body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself 
in  love." 

Should  this  work  add  its  mite  to  so  happy  a  consummation, 
the  author  will  consider  himself  fully  recompensed  for  his  labor. 
ERNEST  L.  HAZELIUS,  D.  D. 

Professor  of  Sacred  Theology  in  the  Lutheran  Theological 
Seminary  at  Lexington  in  South  Carolina. 


RECOMMENDATIONS    OF     THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    AMERICAN   LUTHERAN 
CHURCH. 

Of  Rev.  Dr.  Bachman,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

I  have  read  with  interest  and  instruction  the  manuscript  of 
the  history  of  the  American  Lutheran  Church  by  Dr.  Hazelius. 

Whilst  a  work  of  this  kind  is  especially  valuable  to  the  mem- 
bers of  this  branch  of  the  Christian  church — the  earliest  in  the 
Reformation,  it  cannot  fail  to  possess  much  interest  to  Protes- 
tants in  general.  It  is  characterized  by  great  fairness  and  can- 
dor, and  with  a  desire,  to  perpetuate  truth.  It  gives  evidence  of 
minute  and  discriminating  research,  and  from  the  author's  long 
labors  as  a  clergyman  and  Professor  of  Theology,  and  his  gene- 


RECOMMENDATIONS.  VII 

ral  acquaintance  with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  and  its 
ministers  in  America,  I  am  warranted  in  saying,  that  no  one  is 
better  qualified  to  fulfil  the  delicate  and  important,  but  arduous 
task,  which  he  has  undertaken  to  accomplish. 

I  cheerfully  recommend  this  work  to  all,  who  are  desirous  of 
becoming  acquainted  with  the  early  history  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  America,  and  more  especially  to  those,  who  are  mem- 
bers of  that  communion. 

JOHN  BACHMAN,  D.  D. 

Charleston,  July  6,  1846. 

Recommendation  of  Rev.  Stephen  A.  Mealy. 
I  have  attentively  read  the  manuscript  of  the  history  of  the 
American  Lutheran  Church  by  Dr.  Hazelius  ;  having  been  en- 
gaged in  superintending  the  progress  of  a  considerable  portion  of 
it  through  the  press,  and  can  cheerfully  recommend  it  to  all, 
who  are  desirous  of  obtaining  accurate  information  of  the  im- 
plantation and  subsequent  history  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
America.  From  my  personal  acquaintance  with  the  learning, 
research  and  industry  of  the  author,  I  am  persuaded,  that  his 
church  history  will  fully  meet  the  expectations  of  his  friends, 
and  prove  at  once  a  source  of  instruction  and  benefit  to  that 
branch  of  the  church  of  Christ  especially,  of  which  he  has  long 

and  deservedly  been  the  ornament. 

STEPHEN  A.  MEALY. 
Zanesville,  July  20,  1846. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FROM    THE    FIRST    SETTLEMENTS    OF    GERMANS    IN  THE 

BRITISH  COLONIES  OF  NORTH- AMERICA,  UN^TIL  THE 

ARRIVAL    OF    DR.    MuHLENBERG   IN    PHILADELPHIA. 

FROM  1685  TO  1742. 

SECTION  i.  The  political  and  geographical  State  of 
Germany  at  the  time  of  the  first  emigrations  of  Ger- 
mans to  the  British  North-American  Colonies. 

The  peace  of  Westphalia,  between  Austria,  Spain 
and  the  Catholic  States  of  Germany  on  the  one  part, 
and  France,  Sweden,  the  United  Provinces  of  Holland 
and  the  Protestant  States  of  Germany  on  the  other 
part,  had,  after  protracted  deliberations  in  the  cities  of 
Munster  and  Osnaburgh,  for  seven  years,  settled  the 
affairs  of  Germany,  and  given  to  that  country  the  po- 
litical aspect,  which,  with  few  exceptions,  it  retained, 
until  the  French  revolution. 

Since  the  accession  of  Arnulf  of  Carinthia,  grand- 
son of  Lewis  sur-named  the  pious,  Germany  had 
been  an  elective  monarchy.  At  first  all  the  States  of 
the  Empire  enjoyed  and  exercised  the  right  of  voting 
at  these  elections.  But  after  the  great  interregnum 
from  A.  D.  1197  to  1272,  the  highest  dignitaries  of 
2 


10  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

the  Empire  claimed  the  exclusive  privilege  of  electing 
the  Kings  of  Germany  and  Roman  Emperors,  and 
had  assumed  the  title  of  Electors.  Three  of  them 
were  dignitaries  of  the  church,  viz :  the  Archbishops 
of  Mainz,  Trier  and  Coeln ;  and  four  were  secular 
princes,  viz :  the  Duke  of  Saxony,  of  Bavaria,  of  the 
Palatinate  and  the  Markgrave  of  Brandenburg.  The 
famous  golden  Bull  published  during  the  reign  of 
Charles  IV.  in  the  year  A.  D.  1356  had  confirmed  the 
privilege  of  election  to  the  above  named  dignitaries 
of  the  empire,  and  the  city  of  Frankfurt  on  the  Mayn, 
had  by  the  same  document  been  fixed  upon,  as  the 
place  of  election.  On  every  such  occasion,  the  first 
object  of  the  assembled  princes  was,  to  circumscribe 
the  Imperial  power,  and  to  enlarge  their  own  rights 
and  privileges.  As  the  election  might  fall  on  any 
prince  of  the  German  States,  the  conditions  of  election 
were  mutually  agreed  upon  before  the  election  itself 
took  place.  The  prince  elect  was  bound  to  subscribe 
the  articles  of  election,  previous  to  his  being  proclai- 
med Emperor.  Previous  to  the  reign  of  Lewis  of 
Bavaria  the  Papal  assent  and  coronation  had  been  dee- 
med necessary  for  the  confirmation  of  the  election,  but 
at  the  accession  of  that  prince  to  the  Imperial  throne, 
it  was  resolved,  that  the  person  elected  by  a  majority 
of  the  votes  of  the  electoral  princes  was  the  legitimate 
Emperor,  without  the  interference  of  papal  author- 
ity. The  coronation  was  performed  by  the  Archbishop 
of  Mainz,  assisted  by  those  of  Trier  and  Coeln.  With 
the  imperial  government  there  was  connected  a  con- 
gress of  the  States,  composing  the  empire,  denomina- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  11 

ted  the  diet.  This  body  decided  on  the  question  of 
peace  or  war,  and  every  other  subject  of  sovereignty, 
which  either  had  not  been  reserved  as  an  imperial 
prerogative,  or  which  had  not  been  usurped  by  the 
States,  as  exclusively  belonging  to  their  jurisdiction. 
The  States  of  the  Empire,  having  a  seat  and  vote  in 
this  body,  assembled  during  the  earlier  times  of  the 
commonwealth  twice  a  year,  and  more  frequently, 
whenever  deemed  necessary.  One  or  the  other  of  the 
free  imperial  cities  was  the  place  of  meeting.  Since 
A.  D.  1663  the  Diet  was  permanent  at  Ratisbon  until 
1806.  This  body  consisted,  previous  to  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Germanic  empire  by  Napoleon,  of  the  am- 
bassadors of  the  princes,  spiritual  and  temporal,  and 
the  delegates  from  the  free  imperial  cities.  The  mem- 
bers were  divided  into  three  colleges,  viz :  the  electoral 
college,  the  college  of  the  princes  of  the  empire,  and  that 
of  the  free  imperial  cities.  In  the  second  college  the 
counts  of  the  Empire  had  their  seats,  though  without 
individual  votes,  being  subdivided  into  four  voting 
benches,  viz :  the  Wetteravian,*  the  Suabian,  the  Fran- 
conian  and  the  Westphalian.  In  like  manner  the  Ab- 
bots, Provosts  and  Abbesses  in  possession  of  indepen- 
dent ecclesiastical  territories,  voted  together  in  two 
benches,  viz:  the  Suabian  and  Rhenish  bench.  The 
emperor  presided  either  in  person  or  by  an  imperial 
commissary.  The  electors  and  princes  might  appear 
either  personally  or  by  ambassadors.  The  elector  and 
Archbishop  of  Mainz  as  arch-chancellor  of  the  empire 

*The  Wetterau  is   a  country  on  the  Rhine  comprising  parts 
of  the  duchy  of  Nassau  and  the  Prussian  province  of  Westphalia. 


12  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

was  director  of  the  diet,  to  whom,  as  well  as  to  the  im- 
perial commissary,  the  credentials  of  the  different  States 
were  to  be  delivered,  and  all  the  business,  which  was 
to  come  before  the  diet,  must  first  pass  through  his 
chancery,  from  which  the  different  documents  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  individual  States  for  inspection 
and  action.  Insignificant  was  the  influence  of  the  im- 
perial free  cities  in  this  body ;  the  deliberations  being 
carried  on  in  the  separate  colleges ;  and  whenever  the 
majority  in  each  of  the  two  first  named  colleges  had 
decided  a  subject,  a  conference  between  these  two 
colleges  took  place,  the  resolutions  of  which  were 
communicated  to  the  college  of  the  imperial  cities, 
their  assent  or  dissent  was  minuted,  but  otherwise  dis- 
regarded, notwithstanding,  that  the  articles  of  the  peace 
of  Westphalia  had  secured  to  the  college  of  the  free 
cities  a  full  vote  in  the  Diet.  The  acts  of  the  electo- 
ral and  princely  colleges  were  sent  to  the  emperor  for 
assent  and  ratification  ;  and  when  so  ratified,  were  ter- 
med a  conclusum,  i.  e.  a  law  of  the  empire,  and  the 
sum  of  all  these  lawrs  passed  at  one  session  of  the  Diet 
was  termed  'the  recess  of  the  empire .'  Questions  of 
war  were  introduced  by  the  imperial  commissary,  and 
decided  by  a  plurality  of  votes.  Whenever  the  con- 
clusum  was  in  favor  of  war,  all  the  States  within  the 
bounds  of  the  empire  were  bound  to  send  their  res- 
pective contingents,  though  they  might  have  voted 
against  the  measure.  The  internal  regulations  of  the 
States  were  left  to  the  individual  governments,  in  as 
far  as  they  did  not  contravene  the  laws  of  the  empire. 
Differences  between  the  States  themselves  were  to  be 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  13 

brought  before  one  of  the  imperial  courts  at,  Vienna 
and  Wetzlar.  The  assessors  of  the  first  named  cham- 
ber were  nominated  by  the  emperor;  the  court  of 
Wetzlar  was  composed  of  judges,  some  of  whom  were 
appointed  by  the  emperor,  the  residue  by  the  electors 
of  the  empire.  This  court  received  appeals  from  all 
tribunals,  excepting  those  of  the  electors  and  of  a  few 
other  States,  who  enjoyed  the  privilege*  of  supreme  ju- 
risdiction within  their  own  dominions.  In  regard  to 
religion,  the  States  of  the  empire  enjoyed,  since  the 
peace  of  Westphalia,  theright\  of  reformation  in  their 
respective  territories;  i.  e.  each  state  possessed  the 
privilege  of  introducing  or  of  *  tolerating  either  of  the 
three  confessions,  the  Catholic,  the  Lutheran  and  the 
Reformed,  with  this  proviso,  that  if  any  State  refused 
the  professors  of  one  of  the  afore  mentioned  denomi- 
nations the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  the  public 
authorities  were  bound  by  the  articles  of  the  peace  of 
Westphalia,  to  allow  their  subjects  of  that  denomination 
the  right  of  emigration,  and  the  space  of  five  years,  for 
the  settlement  of  their  affairs  or  those  of  their  ances- 
tors, who  had  lived  in  the  State  and  enjoyed  the  right 
of  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  previous  to  the 
normal  year  1624 ;  and  the  space  of  three  years,  if 
they  had  been  settled  in  the  bounds  of  the  State,  since 
the  conclusion  of  the  peace  of  Westphalia. 

Since  the  commencement  of  the  16th  century,  Ger- 
many had  been  divided  into  ten  circles  or  territories, 
viz :  the  Austrian,  the  Bavarian,  the  Franconian,  the 

*Privilegium  de  non  appellando. 
tJus  reformandi. 


14  AMERICAN    LUTHERAX   CHURCH. 

Suabian,  the  Upper  Rhenish,  the  Lower  Rhenish,  the 
Westphalian,  the  Burgundian,  the  Upper  Saxon  and 
Lower  Saxon  circles.  The  kingdom  of  Bohemia,  the 
duchy  of  Silesia,  the  Markgravates  of  Moravia  and  of 
Lusatia,  as  well  as  a  number  of  smaller  sovereignties 
and  lordships  in  almost  every  part  of  Germany,  were 
connected  with  the  empire,  without  however  being  in- 
cluded in  any  of  the  ten  circles.  The  circle  of  Austria, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Bishoprics  of  Trient  and 
Brixen,  was  under  the  rule  of  the  house  of  Habsburg, 
from  which  the  emperors  had  been  elected,  with  a  few 
exceptions,  since  the  year  1272.  To  the  same  house 
were  also  subject  the  kingdom  of  Bohemia,  the  duchy 
of  Silesia,*  the  Markgravates  of  Moravia  and  Lusatia ; 
the  circle  of  Burgundy,  or  what  now  forms  the  king- 
doms of  Holland  and  Belgium,  and  considerable  ter- 
ritories in  Suabia.  The  larger  portion  of  the  circle  of 
Bavaria  was  subject  to  the  house  of  Wittelsbach,  dukes 
of  Bavaria ;  the  Upper  Palatinatef  in  the  Northern  part 
of  that  circle,  the  Bishoprics  of  Salzburg,  Freysingen 
and  Passau  excepted.  The  circle  of  Suabia  contained 
besides  the  portions  thereof,  in  possession  of  Austria, 
as  observed,  the  duchies  of  Wurtemberg,  the  Mark- 
gravates of  Baden,  the  Bishoprics  of  Augsburg  and 
Constance,  twenty-seven  abbeys,  thirty  small  princi- 
palities, landgravates  and  independent  lordships,  and 
thirty-six  Imperial  cities,  among  which  were  the  cities 
of  Augsburg  and  Ulm. 

*Lusatia  was  ceded  by  Austria  to  Saxony  in  1634.  Silesia  was 
ceded  to  Prussia  in  1742. 

fThe  Upper  Palatinate  came  however  likewise  during  the  30 
years  war  in  possession  of  the  dukes  of  Bavaria 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  15 

Franeonia  contained  the  Markgravates  of  Anspach 
and  Bayruetz,  the  Bishoprics  of  Wurtzburg,  of  Bam- 
berg  and  Eichstaedt,  the  county  of  Henneberg;  the 
principalities  of  Hohenlohe  of  Schwarzenberg,  several 
other  small  independent  lordships  and  four  Imperial 
cities,  among  which  was  Nurenberg.  The  Upper 
Rhenish  circle  embraced  the  duchy  of  Deux-ponts, 
the  principalities  of  Simmern,  Lantern,  Veldanz,  Spon- 
hime,Salm,  Nassau-Usingen,  Weilburg,  and  Saarb- 
ruck,  the  Landgravates  of  Hesse,  and  their  dependen- 
cies, the  Bishoprics  of  Worms,  of  Spire,  of  Fulda,  of 
Strasburg  of  Basel,*  together  with  the  free  imperial 
cities  of  Frankfurt  on  the  Mayn,  Spire,  f  Worms,  Fri- 
edberg  and  Wetzlar.  The  Lower  Rhenish  circle  em- 
braced the  Electorates  of  Mainz,  Trier  and  Coeln,  the 
Palatinate  and  some  smaller  territories.  The  circle  of 
Burgundy  embraced  the  Austrian  Netherlands;  the 
circle  of  Westphalia  contained  the  Bishoprics  of  Mun- 
ster,  Paderborn,  Liege  or  Luttich,  Osnaburg,  the  Ab- 
beys of  Corvey,-Stablo  and  Malmedy,  Werden,  Essen 
and  Thorn ;  the  Duchies  of  Cleves,  Juliers,  Berg  and 
Oldenburg;  the  principalities  of  Nassau-Siegen  and 
Dillenburg,  East-Friesland,  Minden,  Verden,  Moeurs, 
Lippe,  Benthime,  Hoya,  Taklenburg  and  Lingen,  as 
also  a  considerable  number  of  smaller  sovereignties, 
and  the  free  Imperial  cities  of  Coeln,  Aachen  or  Aix 
la  chapelle,  and  Dortmend.  The  circle  of  Lower 
Saxony  embraced  the  Ekctorate,J  now  kingdom  of 

*Not  the  canton  of  Basel,  which  belongs  to  Switzerland. 
tThe  cities  of  Spire  and  Worms  were  not  included  in  the  Bish- 
oprics of  the  same  name. 
JThe  present  kingdom  of  Hanover  was  constituted  the  eighth 


16  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

Hanover,  the  duchies  of  Magdeburg,  Holstine,  Mek- 
lenburg,  Brunswick,  the  principalities  of  Hildeshime, 
and  Halberstadt;  a  few  smaller  territories  and  the  free 
Imperial  cities  of  Hamburg,  Bremen,  Lubeck,  Goslar, 
Muhlhausen  and  Nordhausen.  The  circle  of  Upper 
Saxony  embraced  the  Electorates  of  Brandenburg  and 
Saxony,  the  Duchies  of  Pomerania,  of  Weimar,  Gotha, 
Coburg,  Altenburg ;  the  principalities  of  Anhalt,  of 
Reuss,  and  some  smaller  territories. 

Electorate  of  the  German  empire,  A.  D.  1692  ;  after  the  peace  of 
Tilsit  in  1807,  it  was  incorporated  with  the  new  kingdom  of  West- 
phalia ;  by  the  treaty  of  Paris  it  was  restored  to  the  house  of 
Brunswick,  reigning  in  England. 


CHAPTER  I. 

SECTION  n.     Religious  state  of  Germany  at  the  time  of 
the  first  emigrations  of  Germans  to  America. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Austrian,  Burgundian  and 
Bavarian  circles  professed  with  few  exceptions  the  re- 
ligion of  Rome,  and  Protestants  were  barely  tolerated 
under  great  restrictions ;  the  Suabian,  Franconian,  Up- 
per and  Lower  Rhenish  as  also  that  of  Westphalia,  had 
a  mixed  population  of  Catholics  and  Protestants ;  un- 
der Catholic  rulers  the  Protestants  were  generally  op- 
pressed, but  in  the  Protestant  States  of  these  circles, 
except  in  the  Palatinate,  both  churches  enjoyed  the 
free  exercise  of  their  respective  creeds.  In  Upper  and 
Lower  Saxony  the  Protestant  religion  prevailed,  but 
Catholics  everywhere  enjoyed  the  uninterrupted  exer- 
cise of  their  religion.  The  reformation  had  indeed 
penetrated  into  the  Catholic  parts  of  the  empire  ;  and 
even  previous  to  that  era,  the  doctrines  of  the  Walden- 
ses*  in  France,  of  the  Vallenses  in  Piedmont,  and  of 
the  followers  of  Huss  in  Bohemia,  had  made  deep  and 

*It  is  an  error  not  unfrequently  committed,  to  confound  the 
"Waldenses  of  France  and  the  Vallenses  of  Piedmont  with  each 
other  ;  the  former  derive  their  origin  from  Peter  Waldo,  a  weal- 
thy merchant  at  Lyons  in  France  ;  the  Vallenses  are  immigrants 
into  Piedmont  from  the  East,  and  receive  the  name  Vallenses,  be- 
cause they  inhabit  the  Alpine  valleys  of  Piedmont. 


S  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

lasting  impressions  on  thousands  in  different  parts  of 
Germany. 

Wic/cliffe  of  Lutterworth  in  England  had,  during  the 
reign  of  Edward  III.,  by  his  translation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures into  the  vernacular  language,  and  by  his  sermons 
against  the  abuses  prevailing  in  the  church,  diffused  a 
light  not  only  over  his  native  country  but  also  over 
Germany ;  a  light,  which  the  persecutions  and  con- 
demnations of  the  Roman  clergy  wrere  unable  to  ex- 
tinguish. 

Anna,  wife  of  Richard  II.,  successor  to  Edward  III., 
was  a  Bohemian  princess,  sister  of  Wenceslaus,  king 
of  Bohemia.  With  her  many  Bohemians  came  to  En- 
gland, and  through  them  the  doctrines  of  Wickliffe 
reached  that  portion  of  Germany,  in  which  the  Papal 
power  had  never  been  able  to  gain  a  complete  ascen- 
dency. The  Bohemians,  having  received  the  first  ti- 
dings of  the  gospel  through  missionaries  from  Greece, 
had,  notwithstanding  the  violence  of  Roman  persecu- 
tions, retained  the  scriptures,  and  divine  service  was 
performed  in  the  language  of  the  country  and  not  in  the 
Latin.  In  the  12th  century  the  persecuted  Waldenses 
and  Albigenses*  in  France  had  found  a  welcome  asy- 
lum in  Bohemia,  and  their  doctrines  extended  thence 
into  Silesia,  Brandenburg  and  Pommerania.  During 
the  14th  century  men  of  fervent  piety  and  unblemished 
character,  a  Conrad  Stickna,  John  Militsh  and  Mat- 

*Albigenses,  a  name,  not  denoting  one  particular  class  of  her- 
etics, so  called  by  Romanists,  but  embracing  all  those,  who  under 
various  names  in  the  South  of  France,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tou- 
louse and  Albi,  resisted  the  tyranny  of  the  Roman  Priesthood,  and 
were  endeavoring  to  purify  the  church  from  papal  corruptions. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          19 

thias  de  Janow,  manifested  a  becoming  zeal  against 
the  corruptions  of  the  clergy,  the  orders  of  mendicant 
friars,  the  withdrawing  of  the  cup  in  the  Sacrament 
from  the  laity,  and  the  arrogant  claims  of  the  papal 
power  in  general.  Under  these  circumstances  the 
doctrines  of  WicklifFe,  with  which  the  Bohemians  had 
become  acquainted  as  above  stated,  were  received  with 
enthusiasm  by  the  people. 

There  was  a  chapel  at  Prague,  the  capital  of  Bohe- 
mia, in  which  according  to  the  testamentary  will  of  the 
founder,  a  sermon  was  daily  to  be  preached  in  the 
language  of  the  country  by  the  appointed  chaplain. 
John  Huss  was  that  chaplain,  a  man,  who  had  drunk 
deep  into  the  doctrines  of  the  English  reformer,  and 
who,  consequently  directed  all  his  zeal  and  energy  in 
his  frequent  sermons,  against  the  superstitions  of  the 
age.  He  went  so  far,  as  openly  to  preach  against  the 
power  of  the  pope,  to  style  him  the  Antichrist,  and 
zealously  to  oppose  the  sale  of  indulgences. 

The  council  of  Constance,  which  had  been  called 
together  in  1414,  to  put  a  stop  to  the  great  schism, 
then  existing  in  the  papal  hierarchy,  a  council,  which 
had  maintained  its  authority  against  papal  arrogance, 
appeared  to  John  Huss  as  an  ecclesiastical  body,  be- 
fore which  he  might  defend  himself  with  some  confi- 
dence, and  from  which  he  might  expect  a  favorable 
sentence.  But  he  was  arrested  soon  after  his  arrival 
at  Constance,  notwithstanding  the  letters  of  protection, 
which  he  had  received  from  the  emperor  Sigismund, 
whom  the  council  informed,  pretending  to  act  under 
the  inspiration  of  the  holy  Spirit,  that  no  faith  ought 


20  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

to  be  observed  towards  a  heretic.  His  condemnation 
and  execution,  which  took  place  July  6th,  A.  D.  1415, 
excited  his  countrymen  to  war  and  open  rebellion, 
which  lasted  until  1436,  the  council  of  Basle  having 
succeeded,  in  consequence  of  intestine  dissentions 
among  the  Hussites,  to  bring  their  strongest  party  to 
terms  of  reconciliation  with  the  Roman  church  by  gran- 
ting them  the  use  of  the  chalice  in  the  administration 
of  the  Lord's  Supper,  whence  they  received  the  name 
of  Calixtines.  The  other  party,  denominated  Tabor- 
iteSj  from  a  mountain  near  Prague,  on  which  they  had 
established  themselves  in  a  fortified  camp,  not  being 
satisfied  with  any  thing  short  of  a  complete  reforma- 
tion of  the  church,  continued  to  hold  out,  and  from  this 
party  arose  the  society  of  the  Bohemian  and  Moravian 
Brethren,  who  finally  obtained  (from  Sigismund  and 
his  successors )  liberty  of  conscience  (• — )  which  howev- 
er was  violated,  as  often  as  circumstances  permitted, 
until  thousands  of  them  were  compelled  in  the  17th 
and  beginning  of  the  18th  century  to  leave  their  coun- 
try and  flee  to  Poland  and  Germany,  in  which  latter 
country  count  Zinzendorf  collected  many  of  the  refu- 
gees, and  established  the  Moravian  church,  of  which 
congregations  exist  also  in  the  U.  S.  They  have  been 
instrumental  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  to  awaken  the 
missionary  spirit  in  the  protestant  churches. 

Exactly  one  hundred  years  after  the  condemnation 
and  execution  of  the  martyrs,  Huss  and  Jerome  of 
Prague,  a  reformation,  which  by  the  Bohemians  had 
been  attempted  through  force  of  arms,  commenced  in 
Germany  in  God's  own  way,  by  choosing  his  own  in- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  21 

struments,  to  effect,  what  kings  and  nations  had  not 
been  able  to  accomplish  by  the  arm  of  flesh. 

The  light  of  the  word  of  God  arose  over  one  half  of 
Germany,  and  the  precious  seed  promised  an  abun- 
dant harvest.  The  enemy  however  failed  not  to  sow 
tares  among  the  wheat.  Christian  charity  had  not  yet 
taught  the  children  of  light  to  distinguish  between 
mere  externals  of  religion  and  those  doctrines,  which 
are  always  to  be  considered  as  fundamental.  Sects 
arose,  and  with  them  disharmony  and  persecution. 
Protestant  persecuted  Protestant,  dissentions  and  dis- 
putes on  idle  questions,  or  on  subjects  of  minor  impor- 
tance engaged  the  attention  of  all,  the  religion  of  the 
heart  was  neglected,  and  the  fruits  of  the  blessed  refor- 
mation were  nearly  blasted.  Men  loved  their  creeds, 
but  not  God;  they  adhered  to  orthodoxy,  but  not  to 
the  Saviour  of  repeating  sinners.  For  creeds  oceans 
of  human  blood  were  shed,  countries  laid  waste,  cities 
destroyed  and  their  inhabitants  reduced  to  poverty 
and  want.  This  was  especially  the  case  in  Germany. 
Rulers  frequently  changed  their  creeds ;  and  having 
done  so,  they  demanded  their  subjects  to  follow  their 
examples.  No  portion  of  Germany  suffered  more  from 
these  evils,  than  the  countries  on  the  Rhine.  Exposed 
to  the  hostile  armies  of  France,  as  well  as  to  the  tyran- 
nical influence  of  their  princes,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Palatinate  and  the  subjects  of  many  of  the  petty  sove- 
reigns between  the  Rhine  and  France,  were  driven  to 
despair,  and  sought  for  asyla  in  other  countries. 


CHAPTER  I. 

SECTION  in.      Causes  of  emigration  from  Germany  to 
,  America,  and  first  settlements  of  Germans  in  the 
British  colonies. 

Before  America  was  generally  known  as  a  land  of 
refuge  for  the  oppressed,  Protestants  of  both  parties, 
Lutherans  and  Reformed,  were  received  in  the  domin- 
ions of  the  Electors  of  Saxony  and  Brandenburg,  in 
which  countries  colonies  from  the  Rhine,  Bohemia, 
Moravia  and  Silesia,  then  under  Austrian  sway  were 
formed ;  Poland  also  and  Russia  received  large  acces- 
sions of  industrious  citizens  from  Germany ;  the  settle- 
ments of  the  United  Provinces  of  Holland  in  Asia  and 
Africa  were  filled  with  German  emigrants,  others  fled 
into  Turkey,  and  sought  under  the  sceptre  of  the  Sultan 
of  Constantinople,  at  least  some  portion  of  that  liberty 
of  conscience  which  had  been  denied  them  at  home. 

When  Penn  invited  settlers  to  Pennsylvania,  grant- 
ing an  unrestricted  liberty  of  conscience  to  all  colo- 
nists, promising,  that  no  person,  who  acknowledges 
one  God,  and  lives  peaceably  in  society  was  to  be 
molested  for  his  religious  opinions  or  be  compelled  to 
attend  or  assist  in  maintaining  any  ministry  whatso- 
ever, these  glad  tidings  reached  the  oppressed  Ger- 
mans likewise  and  soon  brought  numerous  colonies 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  23 

from  the  banks  of  the  Rhine  and  Wurtemburg  to  the 
land  of  Penn.  Many  of  the  colonists  had  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  Father-land.  On 
their  arrival  in  the  new  world  they  found  brethren  in 
the  faith  in  the  Swedish  colonists,  settled  on  the  eas- 
tern and  western  banks  of  the  river  Delaware.  But 
the  difference  in  the  language,  in  some  measure  es- 
tranged the  German  Lutherans  from  their  Swedish 
brethren,  though,  as  we  shall  notice  in  the  sequel,  each 
part  considered  the  other  as  fellow-worshippers,  and 
both  attended  for  many  years  the  respective  Synodical 
meetings  and  conventions.  Through  the  obstinate 
adherence  of  many  of  the  German  Lutheran  ministers 
to  their  native  language,  for  which  the  Swedes  had 
gradually  substituted  the  English  in  their  service,  the 
Swedish  churches  were  compelled  to  cast  themselves 
into  the  arms  of  the  English  Episcopal  church,  the  con- 
nexion with  Sweden  and  the  support  of  the  Swedish 
churches  from  home  ceasing,  during  the  struggle  of 
the  American  revolution. 

The  war,  which  had  succeeded  the  death  of  Charles 
II.,  king  of  Spain,  between  France  on  the  one  part, 
and  England,  Austria,  Holland  and  most  of  the  States 
of  Germany  on  the  other,  known  under  the  name  of 
the  war  for  the  Spanish  succession,  again  compelled 
thousands  of  Germans  on  the  borders  of  the  Rhine,  in 
Wurtemberg  and  Baden,  the  inhabitants  of  which 
countries  were  most  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  that 
war,  to  seek  an  asylum  in  distant  lands. 

Between  the  years  1706  and  1712  emigrations  to  the 
colonies  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  became  fre- 


24  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

quent,  and  very  many  industrious  families  settled  in 
the  counties  of  Duchess,  Ulster,  Rensselaer  and  Scho- 
harie,  as  also  on  the  fertile  banks  of  the  Mohawk  in 
the  then  province  of  New  York.  In  the  city  itself  a 
number  of  Lutherans  from  Holland  had  taken  refuge, 
and  were  joined  by  many  emigrants  from  Germany 
and  Protestants  from  France,  during  the  time,  that 
Holland  held  possession  of  the  colonies  planted  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Hudson.  These  settlers  from  dif- 
ferent countries  had  formed  themselves  into  a  congre- 
gation and  built  a  church,  in  which  service  was  per- 
formed in  4he  Holland  and  French  languages  and 
occasionally  also  in  the  German,  by  ministers  from 
Holland,  who  remained  in  spiritual  connexion  with 
the  Lutheran  consistory  at  Amsterdam.  This  was 
likewise  the  case  writh  the  Lutheran  emigrants  from 
Holland  and  Germany  to  the  West-India  islands  un- 
der the  government  of  the  United  Provinces  in  St. 
Martins,  Curacoa,  Jlruba  and  in  the  Dutch  colony  of 
Paramaribo  on  the  continent  of  South  America,  as  also 
in  the  colony  of  the  cape  of  Good  Hope,  so  long  as 
that  territory  was  in  possession  of  the  Dutch ;  and  so 
far  as  we  have  been  informed,  this  connexion  with 
the  authorities  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  mother- 
country  is  still  subsisting  in  all  the  colonies  under  the 
authority  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Netherlands. 

During  the  reign  of  Queen  Ann  provisions  had  been 
made  for  the  support  of  the  schools  and  churches  of 
the  Lutheran  emigrants  to  the  colonies  of  New  York 
and  South  Carolina.  In  the  province  of  New  York, 
that  tract  of  land,  on  which  the  towns  of  Newburg  and 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  25 

New- Windsor  have  been,  built,  was  allotted  for  the 
purposes  already  named,  and  it  is  remarkable,  that  the 
patent  expressly  stipulates,  to  be  granted  for  the  main- 
tenance of  Lutheran  parish  schools  and  ministers  for 
the  Germans,  who  either  had  settled  or  who  might 
hereafter  settle  an  the  neighborhood  of  the  river  Hud- 
son. Had  the  beneficent  views  of  the  British  queen 
been  carried  into  effect  by  the  officers  of  the  crown  in 
the  colonies,  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  State  of  New 
York  would  be  in  possession  of  a  fund,  more  than  suf- 
ficient for  the  support  of  her  schools  and  churches. 
But  the  colonists,  scarcely  informed  of  the  benevolent 
designs  of  the  queen,  and  chiefly  intent  upon  the  cul- 
tivation and  improvement  of  their  farms,  afforded  op- 
portunities to  avaricious  men  at  the  helm  of  State, 
to  change  the  present  of  the  queen  into  a  subject  of 
speculation,  allured  to  the  commission  of  the  crime 
by  the  fertility  of  the  land,  its  convenient  situation  for 
commerce  and  the  indifference  of  those,  who  would 
have  reaped  the  rich  benefits  of  the  grant. 

In  a  similar  manner  was  that  land  wrested  from  the 
Germans,  which  Queen  Ann  had  allotted  to  them  on 
the  banks  of  the  Congaree,  in  the  colony  of  South  Car- 
olina for  like  purposes ;  a  tract  of  land  still  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Saxe-Gotha  tract.  It  appears,  that 
at  the  same  time,  when  German  colonists  settled  on 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  another  part  directed  their 
attention  to  the  sunny  climes  of  South  Carolina,  and 
at  an  early  date  formed  settlements  on  the  banks  of  the 
Congaree  and  the  forks  of  Saluda  and  Broad  rivers. 

We  have  no  other  account  of  the  origin  of  German 
3* 


26  AMERICAN    LUTHREN    CHURCH. 

settlements  in  South  Carolina,  except  the  information 
we  have  obtained  from  the  oldest  inhabitants,  who 
state  that  their  ancestors  chiefly  came  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Rhine,  Baden  and  Wurtenberg,  coun- 
tries, which  had  been  the  home  of  the  early  settlers  in 
the  northern  province.  This  information  is  strength- 
ened by  the  circumstance,  that  we  have  met  in  the 
South  with  many  family  names  which  were  familiar  to 
us  in  the  North. 

Schoharie  in  the  State  of  New  York  likewise  had 
received,  besides  its  first  settlers  from  Holland,  a  con- 
siderable number  of  German  emigrants,  of  whom  many 
were  attached  to  the  Lutheran  church.  This  took  place 
about  the  year  1720.  In  their  first  attempts  to  form  a 
settlement,  they  experienced  many  difficulties  and  pri- 
vations, which  for  some  considerable  time  prevented 
the  colonists  from  making  the  necessary  arrangements 
for  religious  instruction  and  public  worship.  But 
even  if  their  external  circumstances  had  permitted 
them  to  make  these  provisions,  they  would  still  most 
probably  have  remained  destitute  of  gospel  privileges, 
in  consequence  of  the  scarcity  of  suitable  instructors. 
This  spiritual  want  being  deeply  felt  by  them,  they 
agreed  to  meet  every  Lord's  day  for  mutual  instruc- 
tion and  edification,  by  appointing  one  of  their  own 
number  as  reader  and  to  perform  such  other  devotional 
exercises,  as  were  deemed  profitable  for  edification. 
Private  houses  and  barns  ,were  the  usual  places  of 
meeting.  From  time  to  time  they  received  occasional 
visits  from  the  Rev.  William  Chr.  Burkmeyer,  who 
was  stationed  at  Lunenburg  on  the  river  Hudson,  and 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          2* 

who  during  these  visits  performed  divine  service  and 
administered  the  ordinances  of  the  church  among  the 
settlers.  The  first  minister,  who  wras  regularly  called 
to  serve  the  congregation  at  Schoharie,  was  the  Rev. 
Peter  Nicholas  Sommer,  a  native  of  the  city  of  Ham- 
burg in  Germany ;  he  received  his  call  on  the  7th  of 
September,  A.  D.  1842.  On  the  21st  of  the  same 
month  he  was  ordained  in  his  native  city  as  pastor  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  at  Schoharie,  then  included 
in  the  county  of  Albany  in  the  colony  of  New  York. 
Detained  by  various  circumstances,  he  did  not  arrive 
at  Schoharie  until  the  24th  of  May,  1743,  being  joy- 
fully received  by  his  congregation.  The  first  officers 
of  that  church,  whose  names  appear  on  record,  were 
Abraham  Berg  and  Michael  Freymaurer,  Elders ; 
Henry  Shaefer  and  Peter  Loewenstine,  Deacons.* 

On  the  llth  of  March  1734,  the  first  colony  of 
Salzburgers  arrived  in  Georgia,  with  two  ministers, 
Bolzius  and  Gronau.  They  settled  about  24  miles 
north  of  the  city  of  Savannah,  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  of  the  same  name. 

For  the  better  understanding  of  the  causes,  which 
led  to  their  emigration,  we  have  to  return  to  the  days 
previous  to  the  reformation.  The  persecutions,  to 
which  the  Vallenses  in  Piedmont  had  been  subjected 
for  centuries,  by  the  bigoted  Dukes  of  Savoy,  had  in- 
duced many  from  time  to  time  to  emigrate  into  other 
countries.  But  all  western  Europe  being  under  the 
tyranny  of  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  they  could  not  expect 
to  preserve  their  lives,  as  well  as  their  religion,  dearer 

*From  the  Lutheran  Magazine.    Dr.  Lintner,  Editor. 


29  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

to  them  than  life,  anywhere,  but  in  the  most  inacces- 
sible mountains  of  Dauphine*  in  France,  and  the  Alps 
of  Switzerland,  Salzburg  and  Tyrol.  Thither  they 
fled,  and  for  better  than  a  century  not  only  preserved 
their  religion  unmolested,  but  enjoyed  opportunities 
of  communicating  the  Scriptures  and  their  doctrines 
to  the  inhabitants  of  those  mountainous  region's. 

However  about  the  year  1620  they  were  discovered 
by  the  Roman  Priests,  and  were  subjected  to  the  most 
inhuman  tortures.  Anthony  Bassus,  one  of  their  prea- 
chers, was  decapitated,  and  his  head  nailed  to  his 
pulpit.  Another  minister  was  whipped  to  death ;  in 
short,  all  the  faithful  shepherds  of  this  pious  flock, 
who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  priests,  were  inhumanly 
murdered.  No  less  cruelly  did  they  treat  the  lay 
members  of  these  churches.  Many  were  despatched 
by  setting  fire  to  the  gun-powder,  with  which  their 
mouths  had  previously  been  filled,  others  were  driven 
into  houses  and  barns,  and  suffocated  by  the  smoke 
or  were  burnt  io  death.  Nevertheless  a  seed  remai- 
ned, who,  evading  the  vigilance  of  their  enemies,  faith- 
fully adhered  to  the  gospel,  amidst  great  poverty  and 
constant  fear  of  death. 

In  the  year  1684  some  of  their  retreats  in  the  valley 
of  Tefferek,  Archbishopric  of  Salzburg,  were  again  dis- 
covered, and  new  scenes  of  distress  and  persecution 
ensued.  However  the  protestant  States  of  Saxony  and 
Brandenburg  interfered,  so  that  the  persecution  did  not 

*Dauphine,  a  province  of  France,  at  present  comprising  the 
three  Departments  of  Isere,  Drome  and  Alpes  Superieurs.  Gre- 
noble being  the  largest  city  in  that  part  of  France. 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  29 

assume  the  same  violent  character  as  before.  As  soon 
as  rest  had  been  in  some  measure  restored,  the  word 
of  God  again  manifested  its  blessed  power,  in  bringing 
thousands  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  valleys  of  Salzburg 
and  Tyrol  to  the  knowledge  of  the  gospel  and  a  sub- 
mission to  its  truths. 

Forty  years  had  passed  away  in  comparative  peace, 
when  Leopold,  count  of  Firmian,  Archbishop  of  Salz- 
burg, having  discovered,  that  many  of  his  subjects  had 
forsaken  the  faith  of  Rome,  determined  to  extirpate 
all  the  heretics  in  his  dominion.  Wherever  Bibles 
were  found,  they  were  taken  and  destroyed,  their  ow- 
ners were  whipped  and  incarcerated,  children  were 
torn  from  their  parents  and  put  into  monasteries  for 
education,  the  property  of  the  incorrigible  heretics — 
as  Protestants  were  styled — was  seized,  and  the  peo- 
ple forcibly  expelled.  This  took  place  between  the 
years  1729-'32.  Many  of  these  persecuted  Christians' 
found  asyla  in  the  neighboring  protestant  countries  and 
cities,  in  Wurtenberg,  Baden,  the  city  of  Augsburg 
and  other  free  cities  in  Suabia.  Twenty  thousand 
found  a  home  in  Prussia.  Pastor  Urlsperger  in  Augs- 
burg applied  to  the  London  society  for  the  promotion 
of  Christianity  in  favor  of  the  persecuted  Salzburgers. 
His  representations  of  their  distresses  were  effectual, 
money  and  articles  of  clothing  were  transmitted  to 
him  for  distribution  among  the  destitute,  and  an  asy- 
lum was  offered  them  in  the  new  colony  of  Georgia, 
which  then  began  to  be  settled  under  the  auspices  of 
General  Oglethorpe.  They  were  promised  a  free  pas- 
sage to  America,  and  means  of  support  in  the  colony, 


30  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

until  they  should  be  able  to  live  on  the  productions  of 
their  own  lands.  The  first  colony  consisted  of  91 
persons ;  they  passed  through  Germany  and  Holland 
to  England,  in  the  summer  of  1733.  Two  pious  min- 
isters of  the  Gospel,  Bolzius  and  Gronau,  accompa- 
nied them.  They  embarked,  Nov.  27th  1733,  in  one 
vessel,  after  one  of  their  ministers  had  exhorted  them 
to  confide  in  the  Lord,  who  had  hitherto  saved  them 
out  of  great  distresses,  and  who  would  not  forsake 
them  in  the  untried  dangers  of  the  ocean,  as  well  as 
in  those,  which  might  await  them  in  the  land  of  their 
pilgrimage,  provided,  they  would  trust  in  him.  His 
text  was:  Isaiah,  ch.  49,  v.  10;  "He  that  has  mercy 
on  them,  shall  lead  them." 

After  a  stormy  passage  of  104  days,  the  emigrants 
landed  at  Savannah,  the  capital  of  the  new  colony. 
During  the  long  and  protracted  passage  no  one  had 
been  seriously  ill,  and  all  wrere  able,  after  a  few  days 
of  rest,  to  take  possession  of  the  tract  of  land  on  the 
Savannah  river,  which  had  been  assigned  them. 

In  consequence  of  the  gracious  assistance  of  the 
Lord,  which  they  had  experienced,  they  resolved  to 
celebrate  the  llth  of  March,  the  day  on  which  they  had 
landed  in  the  new  world,  yearly  as  a  festival  of  grati- 
tude to  the  Lord  for  the  gracious  leadings  of  his  divine 
Providence,  and  gave  the  name  of  Eben  Ezer — Rock 
of  Help — to  their  settlement.  In  the  year  1735  ano- 
ther colony  followed  the  first,  and  in  1736  and  '41  two 
others. 

Difficulties  of  a  serious  nature  soon  appeared.  Few 
of  the  emigrants  being  mechanics,  they  were  unable 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  31 

to  erect  saw  and  grist-mills,  though  Ebenezer  creek 
afforded  them  the  best  opportunity  for  such  a  purpose. 
All  their  provisions  were  to  be  transported  from  Savan- 
nah to  Ebenezer,  but  there  was  no  boat  in  the  colony, 
and  no  carpenter,  to  build  one.  The  colonists  were 
therefore  obliged,  during  the  first  years  of  their  resi- 
dence in  Georgia,  to  rely  upon  the  occasional  loan  of 
the  government  boat,  which  however  could  not  always 
bring  the  stores  to  the  Ebenezer  settlement,  and  the 
poor  imigrants  were  not  unfrequently  obliged  to  carry 
the  necessaries  of  life  on  their  backs  to  their  homes, 
sometimes  for  a  considerable  distance.  In  the  build- 
ding  of  their  huts  they  likewise  passed  through  various 
trials.  The  planks  and  timber,  which  the  colonial 
government  had  provided,  were  not  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity to  procure  shelter  for  all,  especially  after  the  arri- 
val of  the  second  party  of  imigrants  amounting  to  57 
persons.  Happily  there  were  among  that  number  a 
few  not  unacquainted  with  the  use  of  tools.  Planks 
were  either  split  or  sawed  by  hand.  The  soil,  allotted 
to  them  was  generally  poor,  horses  and  cattle  scarce, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  they  discovered  to 
their  sorrow,  that  their  industry  alone,  could  not  as 
yet  supply  them  with  bread  stuffs  and  that  they  would 
have  to  depend  still  longer  on  the  bounty  of  the  En- 
glish nation  for  the  means  of  subsistence.  Sickness, 
produced  by  over  exertions  in  the  warm  climate,  to 
which  the  colonists  were  unaccustomed,  was  alarm- 
ingly spreading  through  their  camp  ;  no  physician  was 
there  to  administer  suitable  remedies,  the  ministers 
had  to  supply  the  place  of  medical  men,  and  adminis- 


32  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

ter  to  their  flock  those  medicines,  with  which  they  had 
been  supplied  from  the  large  Druggist  establishment 
of  the  Halle  orphan  house.  These  medicines  were 
blessed  by  the  Father  of  mercies  to  the  restoration  of 
the  health  of  many,  though  a  considerable  number 
found  an  early  grave  during  the  first  year  of  their  res- 
idence at  Ebenezer. 

During  the  third  year  of  their  abode  in  Georgia,  the 
colonists  were  enabled  to  procure  a  boat  for  their  own 
use ;  and  in  1737  God  blessed  their  labors  with  an 
abundant  harvest  of  corn  and  sweet  potatoes.  They 
assembled  on  the  Lord's  day  for  worship  in'the  tent  of 
Mr.  Bolzius,  as  \vell  as  on  other  occasions,  until  a  hut 
could  be  prepared  for  that  purpose.  The  walk  and 
conversation  of  the  people  in  general,  appeared  to  be 
in  conformity  with  their  profession,  and  the  ministers 
omitted  no  opportunity,  to  feed  the  flock,  with  the 
bread  of  life,  over  which  the  Lord  had  made  them 
overseers.  As  many  Germans  resided  in  Savannah, 
Purisburg  and  Charleston,  the  ministers  of  the  Ebene- 
zer congregation  administered  the  consolations  of  re- 
ligion as  frequently  as  possible  to  the  German  inhabi- 
tants of  these  towns. 

Men,  who  have  enjoyed  an  uninterrupted  state  of 
prosperity,  or  who  have  met  with  no  troubles  in  life, 
more  formidable  than  those  cares,  to  which  humanity 
in  general  is  an  heir,  would  have  sunk  under  the  accu- 
mulated evils  and  hardships,  which'  our  imigrants  to 
the  wilds  of  Georgia  were  suffering.  But  they,  who 
for  the  sake  of  the  gospel  had  forsaken  home,  lands 
and  houses,  and  of  whom  many  had  rather  suffered 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  33 

their  dear  children  to  be  torn  from  their  parental  bo- 
soms, than  forsake  that  faith,  which  they  deemed  scrip- 
tural and  leading  to  eternal  life,  felt  little  difficulty  in 
overcoming  trials,  which  in  comparison  to  those  they 
had  borne  in  Europe,  were  considered  light  and  bear- 
able. But  in  the  midst  of  severe  deprivations  they  also 
experienced  that  the  all-seeing  eye  of  the  Father  of 
men  was  watching  over  them,  the  consolations  of  the 
religion  of  Jesus  were  their  support,  they  rejoiced,  that, 
though  poor,  they  enjoyed  the  unspeakable  privilege 
of  serving  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their 
conscience  and  of  experiencing  the  hopes  of  the  word 
of  salvation.  The  Lord  also  awakened  friends  to 
them,  both  in  Europe  and  America.  Collections  of 
considerable  sums  were  made  in  Germany,  and  trans- 
mitted to  the  Salzburgers  by  their  faithful  friends,  Se- 
nior Urlsperger  in  Augsburg,  and  Dr.  Franke  in  Halle. 
Many  individuals  in  England,  as  well  as  the  society  for 
the  propagation  of  Christianity,  relieved  the  wants  of 
the  colonists ;  and  last,  though  not  least,  the  British 
Parliament  voted  the  large  sum  of  £  26,000*  =  $  109,- 
473,69,  for  the  relief  of  the  Salzburg  emigrants. 

By  means  of  these  rich  contributions  not  only  the 
immediate  wants  of  our  Brethren  were  supplied,  but 
they  were  also  enabled  to  establish  an  orphan 'house 
at  Ebenezer,  in  which  children,  bereft  of  their  parents 
found  instruction.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Whitfield  likewise 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  our  friends ;  he 
lived  on  the  most  intimate  footing  with  the  ministers  of 

*  This  statement  is  taken  from  the  letters  of  Mr.  Bolzius  to  Se- 
nior Urlsperger. 


34  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

that  congregation,  and  assisted  them  and  their  flock 
by  collections  made  in  various  parts  of  America. 

From  the  forests  of  Georgia  we  turn  to  the  distant 
northern  climes  and  forests  of  the  province  of  Maine. 
The  continual  wars  between  Germany  and  France  had 
left  the  inhabitants  of  the  border  provinces  no  hope  of 
living  in  peace  on  their  native  soil.  About  the  year 
1738  or  '39  German  emigrants  landed  near  Broad  Bay 
and  the  Muscongus  River  in  the  province  of  Maine, 
and  named  this  new  settlement  Waldoborough,  from 
the  name  of  the  principal  original  proprietor  of  the 
soil,  General  Waldo.  These  emigrants  were  protes- 
tants,  both  Lutheran  and  Reformed.  The  vessel,  in 
which  the  first  settlers  crossed  the  Atlantic,  to  escape 
the  ravages  of  war  in  Europe,  was  the  harbinger  of 
letters  of  marque  and  reprisals  to  New-England  from 
the  British  government  against  the  subjects  of  Spain. 
In  a  few  years  the  number  of  German  settlers  had  so 
much  increased  in  number,  that  the  Legislature  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, with  which  Maine  was  then  connected, 
granted  them  £  75  in  aid  of  their  efforts,  to  defend 
themselves  during  the  war  with  Spain.  As  soon  as 
France  had  taken  part  in  the  contest  against  England, 
their  respective  colonies  in  America  likewise  became 
involved  in  the  hostilities.  The  eastern  and  Canadian 
Indians,  taking  sides  with  the  French,  as  they  usually 
did,  determined  to  destroy  the  young  settlement  at  a 
single  blow.  They  fell  upon  it  in  the  month  of  May, 
1746,  reduced  the  dwellings  to  ashes,  and  either  kil- 
led the  people  or  carried  them  away  captives. 


CHAPTER  I. 

SECTION  iv.     Moral  and  religious  state  of  the  first  em- 
igrants. 

From  the  different  circumstances,  under  which  the 
emigrations  to  America  had  taken  place,  as  noticed  in 
the  last  section  of  this  chapter,  it  will  be  apparent,  that 
the  moral  and  religious  character  of  the  colonists  must 
have  varied  in  many  respects.  All  indeed  had  severe- 
ly suffered  from  tyranny  at  home,  but  we  cannot  sup- 
pose, that  persons,  undergoing  hardships  from  political 
oppression  alone,  should  entertain  feelings  in  complete 
accordance  with  those,  who  had  considered  the  suf- 
ferings from  external  tyranny  light,  in  comparison  to 
those,  by  which  they  had  been  deprived  of  religious 
liberty.  One  part  had  sought  an  asylum  in  America 
to  escape  royal  oppression,  and  were  for  a  season  sat- 
isfied, with  having  found  the  blessings  of  freedom  in 

'  o  O 

the  land  of  strangers  ;  another  part  however  would  have 
valued  these  blessings  alone  as  insufficient,  unless  they 
were  permitted  to  enjoy  them  in  connexion  writh  the 
consolations  of  that  religion  and  faith,  which  had  sup- 
ported them  under  all  their  deprivations. 

A  brief  review  of  the  early  actions  of  the  emigrants 
will  show  the  correctness  of  our  statement.  In  the 
colonies  of  New  York  and  South  Carolina  ample  pro* 


36  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

visions  for  the  support  of  school  and  religious  instruc- 
tion had  been  made  by  Queen  Ann,  but  no  eagerness 
was  manifested  on  the  part  of  the  German  colonists  to 
improve  the  offered  opportunities.  Intent  on  private 
gain,  they  left  the  means,  which  the  providence  of  God 
had  provided  for  their  spiritual  welfare  and  that  of  their 
children  and  distant  posterity,  to  become  the  prey  of 
avaricious  men,  and  did  not  feel  the  loss,  until  an  ab- 
solute spiritual  starvation  had  created  a  hunger  and 
thirst  in  their  hearts  for  the  word  of  God.  It  may  be 
urged  by  way  of  excuse,  that  all  efforts  to  procure  in- 
structors and  ministers  of  the  gospel,  would  most  pro- 
bably have  proved  abortive ;  still  the  fact,  that  such 
efforts  were  not  made,  sufficiently  manifests  the  indif- 
ference to  the  cause  of  religion,  which  ought  not  to 
have  existed  in  hearts,  who  had  abundant  reason  to 
overflow  with  gratitude  to  God.  To  this  indifference 
toward  religion  is  also  to  be  ascribed  the  acceptance 
of  immoral  men  who  had  obtained  some  trifling  edu- 
cation, as  the  instructors  of  their  children,  and  their 
preachers.  Gradually  however  the  people  began  to 
feel,  that  without  the  blessings  of  religion,  civil  liberty 
itself  becomes  a  curse.  The  children  grew  up  with- 
out education,  or  what  was  worse,  with  an  education 
received  from  irreligious  teachers ;  English  instructors 
found  no  access  to  the  Germans,  because  they  were 
tenacious  of  preserving  the  language  of  the  father-land, 
and  for  this  purpose  they  formed  their  settlements  dis- 
tinct and  separate  from  those  of  the  English  population. 
The  consequences  of  such  a  state  of  things  soon  be- 
came apparent,  and  the  people  remembered  the  servi- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  37 

ces  in  the  house  of  God,  as  enjoyed  in  the  home  of 
their  ancestors. 

It  was  natural,  that  their  minds  should  be  directed 
to  their  Swedish  brethren  in  the  faith,  who,  having  re- 
mained in  connexion  with  their  native  country  had 
thence  been  provided  with  pastors  and  the  means  of 
erecting  houses  of  worship.  Their  application  was 
received  with  satisfaction  by  the  Swedish  ministerium, 
and  some  of  their  number,  acquainted  with  the  Ger- 
man language,  labored  some  time  among  them.  How- 
ever, few  only  of  the  Swedish  ministers  being  suffi- 
ciently acquainted  with  the  German  language,  so  as  to 
preach  in  it,  and  the  field  of  labor  being  too  exten- 
sive, the  German  settlers  soon  perceived,  that,  unless 
they  could  obtain  assistance  from  the  father-land,  their 
spiritual  wants  wrould  in  a  great  measure  remain  un- 
supplied.  Applications  were  therefore  made  to  Dr. 
Ziegenhagen,  the  German  court  preacher  in  London, 
as  early  as  in  the  year  1732,  by  the  German  Lutherans 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia ;  others  addressed  themselves 
to  the  Theological  faculties  of  Halle  and  Tubingen, 
to  obtain  suitable  men,  to  feed  them  with  the  bread  of 
life.  The  situation  of  the  Lutherans  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  will  appear  from  an  extract  of  a  letter, 
addressed  to  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  from  which  the  reader 
will  infer,  if  such  was  the  spiritual  condition  of  the 
German  Lutherans  in  the  growing  city  of  Philadelphia, 
what  must  have  been  the  situation  of  the  people,  scat- 
tered over  a  large  territory  in  the  country.  "  Living 
in  a  land,  in  which  divisions  in  religious  opinions  are 

almost  countless,  and  being  destitute  of  that  food  for 

4* 


38  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

our  souls,  which  we  need,  and  unable  to  find  ways 
and  means  in  our  own  community,  to  supply  our  wants, 
we  pray  God,  to  shew  us  through  our  friends  abroad, 
what  may  be  done  for  us.  The  great  body  of  our 
young  people,  bewildered  by  the  multitude  of  opin- 
ions, and  in  absolute  want  of  schools  and  religious 'in- 
struction, will  go  astray,  and  be  led  into  paths  of  error. 
The  Lord,  the  searcher  of  hearts  and  the  trier  of  the 
reins,  alone  knows,  how  greatly  we  stand  in  need  of  the 
assistance  of  fellow- christians,  and  that  in  asking  our 
friends  to  lift  collections  for  us,  we  have  nothing  else 
in  view,  but  the  honor  of  God,  and  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare and  eternal  salvation  of  our  fellow-men.  We  do 
not  ask  for  such  contributions,  to  enable  us,  to  build 
stately  edifices  and  temples  ;  no !  we  shall  be  fully  sat- 
isfied, if  we  can  obtain  sufficient  aid,  to  erect  plain 
places  of  worship  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
where  we  may  meet  for  prayer  and  praise,  and  for  the 
religious  instruction  of  our  youths.  And  we  trust, 
that  a  merciful  God  will  not  forsake  us,  but  will  excite 
the  hearts  of  our  fellow-christians,  to  assist  us  in  our 
great  spiritual  distress,  and  that  your  Reverence  will 
grant  us  that  aid,  which  we  so  much  need." 

Several  letters  and  petitions  of  this  kind  were  ex- 
changed between  America  and  Europe,  but  it  seemed 
for  a  long  time,  as  if  no  suitable  persons  could  be  found, 
to  supply  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  Lutheran  churches 
in  the  American  colonies  of  New- York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  Theological  faculty  of  Halle  sent  mean- 
while a  large  supply  of  Bibles,  Testaments,  hymn  and 
prayer-books  to  the  destitute  colonists.  But  in  the 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          39 

year  1741  the  Rev.  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg,  pas- 
tor of  Hermersdorf  in  Upper  Lusatia,  and  Inspector  of 
the  orphan-house  in  that  place,  accepted  a  call  as  min- 
ister of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  the 
succeeding  year  the  Rev.  Peter  Nicholas  Sommer, 
from  Hamburg,  was  called  as  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Schoharie  in  the  colony  of  New  York. 

Far  different  was  the  state  of  the  German  colonists 
in  Georgia.  They  were  abundantly  supplied  with  all 
the  means  of  grace,  having  two  faithful  witnesses  of 
the  truth  in  their  midst,  and  having  been  taught  through 
the  severe  persecutions,  they  had  endured,  to  value  the 
privilege  of  worshipping  God  according  to  the  dictates 
of  their  consciences,  more  than  all  earthly  riches.  A 
few  extracts  from  letters  written  by  them  to  their  friends 
in  Germany,  and  of  testimonials  of  their  faith  on  a  dy- 
ing bed,  preserved  in  the  journals  of  their  ministers, 
will  afford  the  reader  a  better  idea  of  the  spiritual  state 
of  the  Salzburgers  at  that  time,  than  any  description, 
that  might  otherwise  be  given. 

Extract  of  a  letter  of  John  Moshammer  to  Senior  Urlsperger  in 
1734. 

After  having  expressed  his  gratitude  to  the  Rev. 
Senior  and  all  the  other  friends  in  Germany  for  their 
kindness  towards  the  Salzburg  exiles,  he  says :  "  The 
greatest  blessing  however  is,  that  God  has  provided 
us  with  two  pious  pastors,  who  proclaim  to  us  the  word 
of  God  in  its  purity.  We  sincerely  wish,  that  you 
could  prevail  on  Mr.  Pfeffer,  to  undertake  a  journey 
to  Salzburg,  to  tell  our  friends  there,  that,  though  we 


40  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

have  passed  through  various  trials,  we  have  reason  to 
be  thankful,  that  God  has  saved  us  from  them  all,  and 
we  trust,  he  will  not  forsake  us  in  future  ;  and  we  be- 
seech our  friends,  for  the  sake  of  God  and  our  common 
salvation,  to  seek  conversion  from  darkness,  to  shun 
no  dangers  and  sufferings,  but  to  follow  after  Christ. 
For  since  the  word  of  truth  says,  Who  denies  me  be- 
fore men,  him  will  I  also  deny  before  my  Father,  but 
who  confesses  me  before  men,  him  will  I  also  confess 
before  my  Father  and  his  angels ;  and  inasmuch  as  the 
present  life  is  short  and  uncertain,  we  shall  act  wisely, 
if  we  do  not  neglect  the  day  of  salvation,  but  like  the 
lost  son,  return  to  our  Father." 

Extract  of  a  letter  signed  by  both  the  ministers,  Bolzius  and  Gro- 
nau,  dated  Ebenezer,  Feb.  13,  1738. 

"With  great  satisfaction  we  perceive,  that  through 
the  grace  of  God  general  contentment  prevails  among 
our  people.  The  longer  they  are  here,  the  better  they  are 
pleased,  and  we  are  sure  that  their  utmost  wishes  will 
be  gratified,  when  they  shall  be  able  to  live  by  their 
own  industry.  In  their  letters  to  their  friends  they  do 
not  persuade  them  to  follow  them,  but  content  them- 
selves with  the  simple  statement,  that  they  are  satisfied, 
because  they  are  enjoying  the  privilege,  they  had  long 
sought  for  in  vain,  to  hear  the  word  of  God  in  its  pu- 
rity. Our  faithful  heavenly  Father  will  perhaps  pro- 
vide the  means  of  building  a  house  of  worship  and  a 
school-house ;  at  present  we  meet  in  the  orphan-house, 
and  feel  that  God  is  with  us." 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          41 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  Barbara  Rohrmoser  to  Peter  Pfeifer,  in 
Augsburg,  Sept.  5,  1736. 

"The  providence  of  a  wise  and  a  gracious  God  has 
directed  me  and  my  children,  to  go  with  other  Salz- 
burgers  to  America.  During  our  passage  we  frequent- 
ly asked  ourselves,  what  the  designs  of  our  heavenly 
Father  probably  were  in  regard  to  us,  but  now,  since 
he  has  brought  us  across  the  ocean,  we  discover,  that 
he  intended  to  make  the  doctrine  of  Christ's  atonement 
truly  precious  to  our  souls,  that  we  might  find  our  hap- 
piness in  it  during  our  present  life,  might  die  hap- 
pily, and  live  forever  in  the  enjoyment  of  bliss  and 
communion  with  him.  In  order  to  obtain  this  precious 
boon,  God  gives  us  so  many  opportunities  in  this 
country,  that  we  can  really  wish  for  no  more,  but  have 
only  to  supplicate  him  for  his  aid  in  the  improvement 
of  these  blessings.  Please  inform  my  husband  and 
children  in  Salzburg,  that  I  am  anxious,  they  also 
should  leave  that  country,  the  Lord  would  not  forsake 
them,  but  grant  to  them  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  gospel 
and  in  Jesus  Christ  far  greater  treasures  than  they 
could  obtain  by  amassing  the  whole  wealth  of  Salz- 
burg." 

These  extracts  of  letters  will  show  the  reader  the 
religious  state  of  the  Salzburg  church  at  that  time ;  a 
few  examples  of  the  happy  departure  of  several  of  the 
members  shall  close  this  statement. 

Under  date  of  April  2,  1735,  Pastor  Bolzius  writes 
as  follows :  "  Mrs.  Geshwandel  departed  this  afternoon. 
It  had  pleased  Almighty  God,  to  lead  her  through  tedi- 
ous and  painful  hours  previous  to  her  death.  She  im- 


42  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

proved  the  passion  week  to  derive  spiritual  strength 
and  comfort  from  the  contemplation  of  the  sufferings 
of  her  Saviour,  and  would  have  been  rejoiced,  had  the 
Lord  called  her  home  on  the  anniversary  of  his  death. 
The  Lord  Jesus  was  her  all  in  all,  hence  she  not  only 
received  my  visits  kindly,  but  waited  for  them  with 
anxious  expectation,  to  learn  more  of  the  kindness  and 
mercy  of  her  gracious  Lord,  as  she  was  wont  to  call 
him.  She  had  made  a  faithful  use  of  the  hymn-book, 
for  the  edification  of  others,  with  which  we  had  pre- 
sented her,  a  short  time  previous  to  her  illness.  She 
had  marked  those  hymns,  which  had  afforded  her  heart 
special  comfort.  No  complaints  escaped  her  lips,  and 
when  visiters  noticed  her  bodily  distress,  she  used  to 
say  :  Our  Lord  is  kind  to  me,  he  can  restore  me,  if  he 
will,  and  resignation  to  that  will,  is  all  I  desire.  She 
was  aware,  that  a  Christian  is  exposed  to  many  dan- 
gers even  to  the  moment  of  his  departure,  and  that  we 
have  to  pass  through  severe  trials  and  contests,  if  we 
will  not  lose  Christ  and  with  him  our  salvation,  and 
God  granted  her  under  all  afflictions  great  comfort  du- 
ring the  last  moments  of  her  life. 

Mentioning  a  visit  to  another  sick  person  in  the 
same  month,  the  pastor  says:  "After  our  forenoon 
service  I  visited  our  sick  friend,  Mr. .  He  ex- 
pressed his  dissatisfaction  with  himself,  on  account  of 
his  negligence  and  carelessness  towards  all  that  was 
good ;  he  observed,  that  the  zeal,  he  had  felt  during 
the  persecutions  in  Salzburg,  had  left  him,  which  grie- 
ved him  very  much.  He  spoke  a  great  deal  of  the 
love  of  God,  manifested  in  the  mission  of  his  Son,  how 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  43 

he  had  given  him  up  for  us  unto  indescribable  suffer- 
ings as  well  as  unto  death,  and  complained,  that  he 
did  not  feel  that  love  on  his  part,  which  he  ought  to 
feel  for  so  amazing  mercy.  He  mentioned,  that  Arndt, 
in  a  certain  chapter  of  his  work  entitled  "  True  Chris- 
tianity" had  stated,  that  for  Christ's  sake  we  should 
be  made  like  unto  angels,  yea,  even  similar  to  Christ. 
These  blessings  are  so  great,  as  to  exceed  the  highest 
honours  here  on  earth,  and  yet,  though  aware  of  this, — 
he  observed — his  love  and  gratitude  for  this  unspeak- 
able favor  was  very  weak  and  feeble."  Mr.  Bolzius 
further  states  :  "  that  as  this  man  bore  a  truly  Christian 
character,  he  endeavored  to  console  him  with  the  pa- 
tience, forbearance  and  long  suffering  of  God,  and  that 
he  hoped,  God  would  forgive  him  his  backwardness 
and  want  of  gratitude,  because  he  felt  contrition  on  its 
account.  A  friend  of  the  sick  man,  who  was  present, 
confirmed  what  I  had  said,  from  his  own  experience, 
which — he  observed — had  taught  him,  that  so  long  as 
a  person  does  not  give  up  all,  but  cleaves  with  his 
heart  and  members  to  earthly  or  sinful  things,  it  was 
impossible  to  enjoy  a  reasonable  service,  (  Romans  xii. 
i.)  in  that  case  there  was  no  divine  blessing  in  the  at- 
tendance on  public  worship,  and  the  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  Christianity,  as  well  as  the  treasures  of  divine 
grace,  were  a  sealed  book  to  these  persons.  But  if  we 
in  child-like  confidence  follow  the  directions  of  holy 
writ,  we  soon  find  the  way,  on  which  even  the  fool 
cannot  err.  He  remembered  perfectly  well — he  said — 
how  the  most  ignorant  people  in  Salzburg,  had  fre- 
quently assembled  in  mountains,  and  among  the  cliffs 


44  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

of  rocks,  for  the  purpose  of  singing,  praying,  and  the 
reading  of  the  scriptures,  being  full  of  hunger  and 
thirst  after  the  word,  and  how  they  had  experienced 
the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  in  these  meetings. — 
Mr.  Bolzius  remarks,  that  this  recollection  of  former 
sufferings  on  account  of  religion,  led  the  persons  pre- 
sent, to  think  of  the  great  blessings  and  benefits,  which 
God  had  graciously  bestowed  on  them  in  this  wilder- 
ness, both  in  spiritual  and  temporal  things.  One  of  the 
company  then  quoted  the  119th  Psalm,  v.  36.  Incline 
my  heart  unto  thy  testimonies ,  and  not  unto  covetousness, 
and  observed,  that  God  was  denying  temporal  blessings 
to  man,  to  which  we  were  clinging  with  too  much  te- 
nacity, and  was  exercising  us  in  crosses,  that  the  heart 
might  learn  to  incline  to  the  testimonies  of  the  Lord." 

In  another  part  of  the  Journal  Pastor  Bolzius  re- 
marks : 

"  To-day  Mrs.  Schweigert  departed  this  life.  In  the 
midst  of  great  pain  her  rest  and  confidence  was  in  the 
.  will  of  the  Lord,  and  she  was  anxious  to  be  with  him." 
Being  on  a  visit  to  a  sick  man  by  the  name  o*f  Shof- 
pach,  the  pastor  remarks  :  "I  found  him  very  low  spiri- 
ted, spoke  to  him  about  our  dear  Saviour,  setting  forth 
to  him,  how  wTe  might  both  live  and  die  happily  in 
communion  with  Christ.  He  assented  to  all  I  had 
said,  but  finally  exclaimed:  Oh  thou  gracious  and 
merciful  God !  and  observed,  that  since  his  last  parti- 
cipation of  the  Lord's  Supper,  he  had  passed  through 
many  internal  trials.  He  was  troubled  by  the  sins  he 
had  committed  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  and  their  re- 
membrance was  almost  depriving  him  of  the  hope  of 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  45 

his  acceptance  with  God.  He  was  now  experiencing 
that  man  in  himself  was  nothing  at  all,  that  sin  was  the 
greatest  of  all  evils,  and  that  it  was  necessary,  to  trea- 
sure up  much  of  the  grace  of  God  and  of  Evangelical 
comfort,  for  the  contest  of  the  last  hour.  Great  indeed, 
added  he,  is  the  mercy,  that  we  have  Christ  and  his 
gospel.  I  am  deeply  grieved,  that  many  things,  hostile 
to  God  and  his  word  enter  my  mind,  I  pray  against 
these  temptations,  and  believe  God  will  not  suffer  me 
to  be  tempted  above  what  I  am  able  to  bear.  I  then 
informed  him  that  the  remembrance  of  his  youthful 
sins,  ought  to  teach  him  to  abominate  sin  and  its  ruin- 
ous effects.  It  is  terrible  indeed,  said  I,  to  offend  God 
\vith  wilful  sins,  and  to  sin  in  hopes  of  his  mercy ;  I 
called  to  his  mind,  that  thousands  were  going  to  hell, 
while  flattering  themselves  with  this  promise,  and  even, 
if  the  eyes  of  some  were  truly  opened,  and  their  hearts 
were  converted  to  God,  and  they  had  received  the 
pardon  of  sins  in  the  order  of  true  repentance  and  faith 
in  Christ,  that  God  would  nevertheless  frequently  cause 
them  to  feel  the  neinousness  and  guilt  of  sin.  But 
since  he  had  made  a  solemn  and  penitent  confession 
of  his  sins,  it  behoved  him  to  trust  more  to  the  word 
and  promises  of  God,  than  to  the  insinuations  of  his 
reason,  and  the  reproaches  of  his  conscience.  God  is 
willing  to  forgive  sins,  and  to  cast  them  into  the  depth 
of  the  sea.  He  would  certainly  remember  the  decla- 
ration of  the  Apostle  John,  "  If  any  man  sinneth,  we 
have  an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous,  who  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not 
for  ours  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world."  Ah  I 
5 


46  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

good  God !  replied  he,  this  declaration  of  holy  writ  is 
shamefully  abused  in  the  world.  I  replied :  it  is  written 
for  poor  distressed  souls,  and  especially  for  those  that 
are  tempted.  This  seemed  to  console  him,  and  he  said, 
yes,  indeed,  it  is  the  greatest  promise  in  the  Bible  next 
to  this  word :  So,  so  has  God  loved  the  world,  that  he 
gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  all,  who  believe  in  him, 
might  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  I  answered : 
This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation, 
that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  into  the  world  to  save  sinners. 
He  assented  and  added :  Yes,  Christ  the  Lord  has  cal- 
led the  poor  sinners  to  himself,  when  he  says :  Come 
unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour,  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I 
will  give  you  rest.  I  replied :  Yes,  the  strong  need  not 
a  physician,  but  those,  that  are  sick,  I  came  to  call  sin- 
ners to  repentance  and  not  the  righteous.  Careless  and 
froward  men  are  indeed  presuming  upon  Christ  and 
his  merits,  without  seeking  conversion,  but  he  calls 
those,  who  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  if  they 
come  to  Christ,  anxious  for  their  souls  salvation,  the 
tempter  wrill  interfere  and  deprive  them  of  the  grace  in 
Christ.  But  we  ought  to  lay  firm  hold  of  him  and  his 
merits,  because  he  is  not  only  the  beginning,  but  also 
the  finisher  of  our  faith,  and  his  honor  is  concerned, 
to  finish  the  work,  he  has  begun.  The  love  of  Christ 
to  a  soul  is  so  strong,  that  he  will  not  forsake  her ;  the 
devil  and  his  power  are  already  overcome,  and  the 
honor  of  believers  consisted  in  being  soldiers  of 
Christ,  and  conquerors  in  his  strength ;  that  the  hu- 
miliation of  Satan  and  his  disappointment  will  be  ihe 
greater,  being  overcome  by  instruments  so  weak,  as 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  47 

believers  had  to  acknowledge  themselves  to  be.  Ha- 
ving prayed  with  him,  I  left  him,  in  hopes,  that  the 
Lord  would  bless  that  visit." 

The  next  day  pastor  Bolzius  was  again  called  to  the 
patient,  whom  he  found  weaker  in  body,  but  stronger 
in  spirit.  The  promises  of  God  had  comforted  and 
strengthened  him  in  the  faith,  for  which  grace  he  could 
not  find  words  sufficient,  to  express  his  gratitude  to 
the  Father  of  mercies. 

A  few  days  afterwards  the  minister  learnt,  that  Mr. 
Shofpach  had  departed  in  the  faith  on  the  atonement 
of  Christ. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ARRIVAL  OF  DR.  MUHLENBERG  TO  THE 
FIRST  SYNOD  OF  THE  AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
HELD  IN  PHILADELPHIA.  FROM  1742  TO  1748. 

We  remarked  in  the  first  chapter  by  anticipation, 
that  the  flourishing  settlement  of  our  brethren  in  the 
province  of  Maine  had  been  destroyed  by  the  Indians 
in  the  year  1746,  and  that  those,  who  were  not  slain 
on  the  spot,  were  taken  into  captivity,  during  which 
many  perished  in  consequence  of  hard  usage,  others 
escaped,  and  were  lost  among  the  population  of  Can- 
ada. During  the  period,  of  which  we  are  now  trea- 
ting, no  attempt  was  made  to  re-establish  the  German 
settlement  in  that  region. 

At  Schoharie,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Sommer  was  laboring  with  success  and  the  bles- 
sing of  God.  The  field,  assigned  for  cultivation  to  this 
servant  of  the  Lord,  was  very  extensive  ;  but  no  dis- 
tance, no  travels  through  forests,  never  before  entered 
by  white  man,  deterred  him  from  visiting  the  Luther- 
an settlements  at  Stone-Arabia,  Little  Falls,  and  Cana- 
joharie,  on  the  Mohawk  river ;  at  Albany,  Helleberg  and 
Beaver  dam,  in  what  is  now  called  Albany  county,  in 
Lunenberg,  Claverak,  Hossack  road,  Rhinebeck,  East 
and  West  camp.  All  these  places  were  visited  by  him 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  49 

at  stated  periods,  to  announce  to  the  people  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  gospel ;  though  he  considered  himself 
more  particularly  engaged  to  the  congregation  at  Scho- 
harie.  At  the  first  Vestry  meeting  of  that  church,  of 
which  any  record  exists  in  the  annals  of  the  Schoharie 
congregation,  June  8th,  1743,  it  was  resolved,  to  com- 
mence the  building  of  a  parsonage  house,  as  a  place  of 
residence  for  the  minister,  and  of  worship  for  the  con- 
gregation. On  the  3d  of  July,  1743,  the  Sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  was  for  the  first  time  administered 
by  the  Pastor,  one  hundred  members  attending  to  that 
ordinance  on  that  solemn  occasion.  On  the  12th  of 
September  in  the  same  year,  the  first  public  worship 
was  held  in  the  new  parsonage*  house  ;  and  here  the 
congregation  continued  to  assemble  during  several 
succeeding  years,  for  divine  service. 

Many  of  the  German  settlements,  in  which  Mr. 
Sommer  labored,  were  severe  sufferers  during  the 
Spanish  war ;  by  some  called  the  first  French  war. — 
The  friends,  who  had  settled  on  the  Mohawk  river  and 
its  immediate  vicinity,  endured  the  greatest  hardships. 
In  1746  a  company  of  volunteers,  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran congregation  at  Schoharie,  having  assembled 
in  their  place  of  worship,  previous  to  their  joining  the 
army,  were  addressed  by  their  pastor  and  partook  of 
the  Eucharist. 

The  letter  written  by  Mr.  Weissiger,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lutherans  in  Philadelphia,  of  which  an  extract 
has  been  given  in  the  4th  section  of  the  first  chapter, 
had  presented  the  spiritual  state  of  our  church  in  Penn- 
sylvania as  by  no  means  flattering,  but  Dr.  Muhlenberg,; 


50 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 


on  his  arrival  in  America,  April  17,  1742,  found  it  far 
worse  than  he  had  anticipated.  There  was -no  house  of 
worship,  either  in  Philadelphia  or  Providence ;  in  New 
Hanover  a  wooden  building  had  been  erected,  but 
even  this  was  untenable.  No  provision  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  rising  generation  had  been  made,  no  school 
house  was  built.  The  first  step  he  took,  was,  to  build 
places  of  worship  and  school  houses,  with  the  money 
he  had  received  from  Germany,  and  these  resources 
failing,  he  hesitated  not,  in  reliance  on  the  aid  of  Pro- 
vidence, to  contract  debts  for  the  finishing  of  the  buil- 
dings. Previous  to  his  entering  on  the  discharge  of 
his  official  duties,  he  went  to  Georgia,  with  a  view  to 
consult  with  the  Brethren  Bolzius  and  Gronau  on  the 
affairs  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  American  colo- 
nies. After  his  return  he  commenced  his  pastoral  la- 
bors in  the  three  congregations  of  Philadelphia,  Pro- 
vidence, and  New  Hanover.  Until  the  commence- 
ment of  1745,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  labored  alone  in  this 
extensive  field.  In  that  year  he  received  an  agreea- 
ble assistance  in  the  Brethren,  Brunholz,  Schaum  and 
John  N.  Kurtz.  Their  arrival  enabled  him  to  extend 
his  labors  to  Germantown  and  to  Cohansey  in  the  col- 
ony of  New  Jersey. 

The  ignorance  among  the  rising  generation  was  very 
great  indeed,  few  of  them  were  able  to  read,  and  teach- 
ers of  a  suitable  character  could  not  be  procured;  Pastor 
Muhlenberg  had  therefore  to  become  himself  an  in- 
structer  in  the  very  rudiments  of  learning.  He  express- 
es himself  on  this  subject  in  a  letter  as  follows :  "Neces- 
sity has  compelled  me,  to  become  a  teacher  of  children. 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  51 

One  week  I  keep  school  in  Philadelphia,  the  next  in 
Providence,  and  the  third  in  New  Hanover ;  and  I 
think,  God's  grace  is  visiting  us.  It  was  however  high 
time,  that  I  should  come.  If  affairs  had  remained  a 
few  years  longer  in  the  same  state,  in  which  I  found 
them,  our  poor  Lutherans  would  have  been  scattered 
or  turned  into  Heathenism.  There  are  many  married 
persons,  that  have  never  been  baptized,  and  numerous 
sects  and  opinions  fill  the  country." 

In  another  letter  he  describes  the  state  of  religion  in 
the  country  as  follows :  "  Atheists,  Deists  and  Natu- 
ralists are  to  be  met  with  every  where.  I  think,  there 
is  not  a  sect  in  the  Christian  wrorld,  that  has  not  follow- 
ers here.  You  meet  with  persons  from  almost  every 
nation  in  the  world.  God  and  his  word  are  openly 
blasphemed.  Here  are  thousands,  wrho  by  birth,  edu- 
cation and  confirmation  ought  to  belong  to  our  church, 
but  they  are  scattered  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven. — 
The  spiritual  state  of  our  people  is  so  wretched,  as  to 
cause  us  to  shed  tears  in  abundance.  The  young  peo- 
ple are  grown  up  without  instruction,  and  without 
knowledge  of  religion,  and  are  turning  into  heathen- 
ism." 

Sad  as  this  picture  is  of  the  state  of  the  church,  still 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  trusted  in  God,  and  gave  not  way  to 
despair.  Preparations  were  made  for  the  building  of 
a  church  at  Providence.  The  corner  stone  was  sol- 
emnly laid  May  2d,  1743,  and  on  the  12th  of  Sept.  the 
first  sendee  was  held  in  the  new  building.  In  Phila- 
delphia, however,  the  difficulties  appeared  for  some 
time  insurmountable ;  especially  in  obtaining  a  lot  for 


52  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  Lots  were  high, 
and  difficult  to  be  procured.  But  the  Lord  assisted 
the  exertions  of  the  lovers  of  Zion.  The  church  coun- 
cil purchased  at  length  a  lot  for  .£200  currency.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  April  5th,  1743 ;  and  the  build- 
ing was  finished  in  1748.  It  was  called  St.  MichaeVs 
church,  and  is  still  in  use  as  a  place  of  worship  of  the 
German  Lutheran  congregation  in  Philadelphia. 

After  the  arrival  of  the  Brethren  Brunholz,  Schaum 
and  Nicolaus  Kurtz — of  whom  Mr.  Brunholz  had  been 
ordained  by  the  consistory  of  Wernigerode  in  Germa- 
ny ;  the  other  two  arrived  as  candidates  of  the  minis- 
try ; — the  circle  of  pastoral  activity  could  be  conside- 
rably enlarged.  Mr.  Brunholz  accepted  the  call  as 
second  minister  in  the  churches,  among  whom  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  had  hitherto  been  laboring  alone.  Mr. 
Schaum  was  appointed  schoolmaster  in  Philadelphia, 
and  assistant  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg  in  preaching. — 
Both  the  Doctor  and  Mr.  Brunholz  bear  ample  testi- 
mony in  their  letters  to  Germany  of  the  faithfulness 
and  success  of  the  labors  of  their  colleague.  Mr.  Kurtz 
was  sent  in  the  same  capacity  to  New  Hanover ,  with 
direction,  however,  of  attending  also  to  the  congrega- 
tion at  Tulpehoken^  and  to  preach  in  such  other  places, 
where  the  ordained  ministers  could  not  attend.  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  found,  in  Mr.  Brunholz,  a  man  of  God, 
and  expresses  himself  respecting  him  in  a  letter  dated 
Nov.  1,  1745,  as  follows:  "My  dear  Brother  takes 
heed  unto  himself,  unto  the  doctrine,  and  the  destitute 
flock.  The  grace  of  God  is  strong  in  him,  notwith- 
standing his  bodily  infirmities.  He  is  able  to  suffer,  and 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  53 

yet  to  fight,  to  pass  through  honor  as  well  as  dishonor, 
through  good  and  evil  report,  in  reliance  on  that  grace. 
The  Lord  grants  him  the  favor  of  the  people,  and  crow- 
neth  the  word  with  his  blessing. 

There  were  many  citizens  at  Chester,  Pennsylvania, 
who  had  been  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  in 
Germany ;  Dr.  Muhlenberg  visited  them  in  the  spring 
of  1745;  preached  to  them,  and  formed  them  into  a 
regular  congregation.  Being  as  yet  unable  to  recom- 
mend a  pastor  to  them,  he  exhorted  them  to  meet  on 
the  Lord's  days,  for  singing,  prayer,  and  the  reading  of 
a  sermon  ;  promising  to  send  them  a  collection  of  suit- 
able discourses.  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  in  mentioning 
this  people  in  his  letters,  expresses  himself  as  follows : 
"  They  stood  around  me  and  Wept  like  children,  or 
rather,  they  came  around  me,  like  a  flock  of  sheep,  who 
had  lost  their  shepherd,  and  had  found  him  again." 

Several  years  previous  to  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg in  America,  the  Lutheran  inhabitants  of  Lancas- 
ter, Pennsylvania,  had  made  application  to  the  Arch- 
bishop* of  Upsal  in  Sweden,  for  a  minister.  About  the 
same  period  of  time,  when  the  Philadelphia  congrega- 
tion was  applying  to  London  and  Halle,  the  Arch- 
bishop had  sent  Pastor  Nyberg  to  Lancaster,  where 
he  met  with  the  most  affectionate  reception.  But  soon 
the  enemy  began  to  sow  tares  among  the  wheat.  Dis- 
sentions  and  dissatisfactions  sprang  up  in  the  congre- 

*  The  inhabitants  of  Sweden  are  Lutherans,  and  have  retained 
the  Episcopal  mode  of  church  government,  though  they  do  not, 
like  the  English  Episcopal  church,  reject  Consistorial  or  Synodi- 
cal  ordination. 


54  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

gation.  They  appear  to  have  originated  on  the  part 
of  Pastor  Nyberg's  strong  attachment  to  the  Moravian 
Brethren ;  a  society,  but  lately  established  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  adhered  to  the  confession  of  Augsburg, 
and  among  whom  Luther's  catechism  was  used  as  a 
book  of  instruction  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
religion.  The  only  differences  of  any  note  between 
Lutherans  and  Moravians  are,  in  the  first  place,  the 
observance  of  a  very  rigid  church  discipline  by  the 
latter  ;  in  the  second  place,  in  a  singular  separation  or 
division  of  their  congregations  into  choirs,  according 
to  sex  and  age  ;  and  thirdly,  in  a  lively  missionary  spi- 
rit, which  in  the  colonies  manifested  itself  in  strong 
efforts  made  for  the  conversion  of  the  Aborigenes,  up- 
on whom  the  other  Christian  denominations  were  ra- 
ther looking  with  suspicion,  and  whom  they  viewed  as 
a  people,  against  whom  the  decree  of  heaven  had  pas- 
sed, like  in  days  of  old  against  the  Canaanites.  In  these 
sentiments  the  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  parti- 
cipated.— We  should  suppose  that  denominations,  so 
similar  in  doctrine,  though  differing  in  regard  to  mea- 
sures, wrould  cheerfully  have  gone  hand  in  hand,  to 
promote  the  work  of  the  Lord.  But  noticing  in  our 
day,  that  Christian  societies,  whose  religious  sentiments 
approach  as  near  to  each  other,  as  those  of  Lutherans 
and  Moravians  did,  a  century  since,  manifest  no  bro- 
therly spirit  towards  each  other,  except  in  so  far  as  a 
hope  is  entertained  of  making  proselytes,  we  need  not 
be  astonished,  that  those  very  distinctions,  peculiar  to 
the  Moravian  society,  filled  the  Lutherans  with  distrust 
towards  a  sect,  whose  proselyting  spirit  they  feared  the 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          55 

more,  the  closer  the  resemblance  was  in  other  respects. 
Pastor  Nyberg  saw  in  the  Moravians  naught  but  a  con- 
fessional relationship,  while  many  of  his  people,  who 
had  lived  a  long  time  in  the  midst  of  various  sects, 
looked  upon  them  as  dangerous  to  the  peace,  welfare 
and  growth  of  their  church.  In  a  short  time  the  dis- 
agreement between  minister  and  congregation  assumed 
so  threatening  an  aspect,  that  a  reconciliation  became 
impossible.  In  this  state  of  things  the  congregation 
called  upon  Dr.  Muhlenberg  for  aid,  who  prevailed  on 
the  Theological  faculty  at  Halle,  to  send  Pastor  Hand- 
shuh  to  America,  who  arrived  in  1748,  and  was  in- 
stalled as  minister  of  the  church  at  Lancaster. 

In  the  colony  of  New  Jersey,  Protestant  Germans 
had  settled  in  the  counties  of  Hunterdon,  Morris,  Som- 
erset, Sussex  and  Bergen ;  the  Lutherans  in  the  last 
mentioned  county  were,  generally  speaking,  emigrants 
from  Holland,  living  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hacken- 
sack  and  Ramapaugh.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  visited  these 
settlements  occasionally,  and  in  1746  Mr.  Kurtz  was 
sent  thither,  to  collect  the  scattered  flocks  and  to  in- 
struct the  young.  According  to  the  accounts  of  those 
times,  his  labors  were  owned  and  blessed  by  trie  Lord. 

After  some  time  Pastor  John  Christopher  Hartwig 
who  was  the  stated  minister  of  the  congregation  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  attended  also  to  the  churches  in 
Hackensack  and  Ramapaugh.  This  gentleman  had 
come  into  America  as  field  preacher  to  a  German  reg- 
iment in  the  service  of  England  during  the  Spanish 
war.  He  also  occasionally  attended  the  congregation 
at  Rhinebeck,  Wurtemberg,  East  and  West  Camp,  in 


56  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

Duchess  and  Ulster  counties  in  the  colony  of  New 
York. 

Mention  is  also  made  in  the  records,  of  several  con- 
gregations in  Maryland,  especially  of  one  at  Frederick- 
town^  but  no  definite  statement  is  given  of  the  situation 
and  spiritual  condition  of  that  church.  From  the  few 
hints  thrown  out  respecting  it,  we  have  reason  to  fear, 
that  the  house  of  peace  was  not  there.  We  also  dis- 
cover traces  of  Lutheran  churches  in  Virginia ;  but 
their  pastors  appear  to  have  been  of  that  class,  of  whom 
many,  previous  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  arrival  in  Amer- 
ica, and,  alas !  too  frequently  since,  have  been  scatter- 
ed over  the  land ;  men  without  morality  and  religion, 
and  addicted  to  gross  vices. 

Very  different  was  the  aspect  of  affairs  at  Eben 
Ezer  in  Georgia.  The  two  faithful  servants  of  God, 
Bolzius  and  Gronau,  continued  to  labor  together  for 
some  years  in  that  portion  of  the  Lord's  vineyard, 
which  he  had  planted  in  the  wilds  of  Georgia.  His 
blessing  accompanied  the  labors  of  his  servants,  so 
that  believers  were  strengthened,  the  wavering  sup- 
ported, the  erring  recovered,  and  many  sinners  brought 
to  the  knowledge  of  their  sins,  as  well  as  to  the  Sa- 
vior of  repenting  sinners,  and  the  hope  of  eternal  life. 
Still,  in  the  midst  of  these  encouraging  prospects  they 
also  found  frequent  causes  of  grief  and  sorrow.  They 
as  well  as  their  flocks  were  poor,  destitute  of  many 
conveniences,  and  even  necessaries  of  life.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  congregation  looked  to  their  pastors  for 
help,  who  were  themselves  in  straitened  circumstan- 
ces. However,  the  acknowledgment  of  the  parishion- 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  57 

ers,  as  stated  in  the  printed  accounts  concerning  the 
Salzburgers  in  America,  manifest  that  these  ministers 
of  God  had  learnt,  "  that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than 
to  receive,"  and  that  their  poverty  was  only  then  felt 
by  them  as  burdensome  when  they  felt  themselves  un- 
able, to  relieve  the  wants  of  their  dear  people.  If 
there  was  any  other  circumstance  which  could  afflict 
them  more  deeply,  than  the  one  we  have  mentioned, 
it  was  the  grief  they  experienced,  when  one  or  the 
other  of  the  flock,  entrusted  to  their  care,  was  turning 
into  the  forbidden  paths  of  sin. 

October  4th,  1742,  Pastor  Muhlenberg  arrived  in 
Eben  Ezer.  Great  was  the  joy  of  the  brethren,  to  be- 
hold the  face  of  a  friend,  who  had  been  dear  unto  them 
in  the  Father-land,  and  who  had  come  to  the  new 
world,  with  the  view  to  gather  the  scattered  German 
Protestants  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  American  col- 
onies, as  they  were  endeavoring  to  do  in  the  South. 
After  a  stay  of  six  days,  during  which  they  had  cove- 
nanted anew,  to  devote  the  powers  of  soul  and  body 
to  the  service  of  the  Lord,  and  having  confirmed  this 
covenant  by  the  participation  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  returned  to  the  field  of  his  activity, 
Pastor  Bolzius  accompanying  him  as  far  as  Charleston. 
Pastor  Gronau  notices  the  departure  of  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg, in  his  Journal,  in  the  following  words:  "Oct. 
11.  This  day  my  dear  colleague  and  Mr.  Muhlenberg 
were  to  start  for  Charleston,  but  evening  came  on,  be- 
fore every  thing  was  ready.  The  day  had,  however, 
not  been  spent  in  vain.  The  preparations  for  the 
journey  having  been  made,  my  colleague  took  leave 
6 


58  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

of  us  in  a  prayer.  Several  of  our  people  were  present. 
All  accompanied  our  departing  friends  to  the  river, 
where  we  once  more  bade  them  adieu,  recommending 
them  to  the  protection  of  God.  Pastor  Muhlenberg 
sung  the  German  verse : 

So  lasst  uns  dann  dem  lieben  Herrn 

Mit  Seel  und  Leib'  nachgehen, 

Und  wohlgemuth,  getrost  und  gem 

Bey  ihm  im  Leiden  stehen. 

Denn  wer  nicht  kaempft,  traegt  auch  die  Kron' 

Des  ew'gen  Lebens  nicht  davon. 

We  all  joined  him,  deeply  affected  by  the  whole  scene. 
I  trust,  the  good  Lord  will  in  his  own  time  bring  us 
again  together.  Never  before  have  we  spent  so  bles- 
sed and  so  happy  a  season  in  Eben  Ezer.  For  the 
Lord  had  never  before  permitted  us  to  embrace  a  dear 
friend  from  our  native  country,  in  whom  we  found  a 
real  brother  in  Christ.  My  desire  and  hope  is,  that 
our  connexion  will  become  still  more  intimate,  and 
that  God  will  grant  his  blessing  to  the  labors  of  our 
brother,  so  that  through  the  preaching  of  the  way  of 
salvation,  a  church  may  be  built  up  in  Pennsylvania 
with  which  we  can  join  hand  and  heart." 

From  the  Journals  of  the  ministers,  laboring  among 
the  Salzburgers,  it  is  evident,  that  their  aim  was,  to 
direct  their  flock  into  the  narrow  path,  that  leadeth  un- 
to life.  Though  they  were  anxious,  to  direct  the  mem- 
bers of  their  church  to  the  observance  of  an  external 
decorum,  and  to  the  submission  of  external  good 
church  discipline  ;  and  though,  according  to  the  testi- 
mony of  their  neighbors,  the  inhabitants  of  the  villages 
round  about  them,  and  those  of  Savannah,  as  also  to 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  59 

that  of  the  colonial  government,  this  congregation  was 
distinguished  in  that  respect ;  .and  though  the  pastors 
were  also  desirous,  that  the  people  should  be  duly  af- 
fected by  the  preaching  of  the  word,  yet  it  is  evident 
from  every  statement  they  make,  that  they  were  labor- 
ing to  impress  this  truth  deeply  on  the  minds  of  the 
congregation,  that  neither  an  external  observance  of 
order,  nor  an  excitement  of  mere  animal  feelings  in- 
sures us  the  high  title,  of  being  the  Sons  and  Daugh- 
ters of  God,  but  the  approach  of  the  heart  and  mind 
to  the  character  of  our  great  prototype,  the  Lord  and 
Savior  Jesus  Christ,  as  well  as  to  have  a  conscience 
void  of  offence  before  God  and  man. 

Many  examples  of  that  tender  conscience  among 
the  Salzburgers  are  exhibited  in  the  Journals  of  their 
ministers,  of  which  we  shall  copy  one,  as  proof  of  our 
previous  assertion.  "  On  the  15th  of  June,"  says  Mr. 
Bolzius,  in  his  Diary  of  1743,  "a  little  girl  came  to 
me,  confessing  with  many  tears,  that  she  had  stolen  a 
peach,  and  that  conscience  disturbed  her  so  much  on 
that  account,  that  she  could  neither  sleep  nor  work. 
I  related  to  her,  what  I  had  lately  read  in  Pastor  Bren- 
er's  account  of  the  Salzburgers,  settled  in  Prussian 
Lithuania.  A  female  had  found  a  large  iron  nail  in 
the  street,  and  had  sold  it;  in  consequence  of  which 
conscience  soon  awoke,  and  besides  chiding  her  for 
the  sin,  she  had  then  committed,  brought  to  her  re- 
membrance another  sin,  which  she  had  committed 
long  before  ;  so  that  she  was  thereby  almost  driven  to 
utter  despair.  I  further  informed  the  girl,  that  when 
the  commission  of  what  is  generally  considered  a  light 


60  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

sin,  disturbs  our  conscience,  a  fire  begins  to  burn 
within  us,  like  the  fire  of  hell,  and  then  we  no  longer 
think  of  a  distinction  between  gross  and  trivial  sins. 
I  advised  her  to  learn  from  the  quoted  example,  that 
God  frequently  improves  the  occasion  of  a  wrong 
lately  committed  by  us,  to  bring  to  our  mind  the  mass 
of  sin,  that  fills  our  hearts,  so  that  we  may  repent,  and 
ask  his  forgiveness  for  Christ'  sake.  Finally  I  dismis- 
sed her  by  bringing  the  following  text  to  her  recollec- 
tion :  "Ifwe  confess  our  sins,  God  is  faithful  and  just, 
to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  purify  us  from  all  ini- 
quity." 

German  settlers  on  St.  Simon's  island,  about  150 
miles  South  of  Savannah,  in  and  near  a  town  called 
Friederica,  having  applied  for  a  preacher  to  the  En- 
glish society  for  the  propagation  of  Christianity,  Pastor 
Drieslerw&s  sent  to  them  in  1743.  In  Feb.,  of  the 
succeeding  year,  he  visited  the  brethren  in  Eben  Ezer, 
and  Mr.  Bolzius  gives  him  the  following  testimony  in 
a  letter  dated  Feb.  24th,  1744.  "Mr.  Driesler  arri- 
ved yesterday.  He  labors  with  the  blessing  of  God 
in  his  small  congregation  at  Friederica,  consisting  of 
62  souls.  The  commandant  of  the  Fort,  Captain  Hor- 
ton,  gives  him  an  honorable  testimony,  and  we  trust, 
our  friend  will  be  an  instrument  to  the  salvation  of 
many  souls.  Next  Lord's  day  he  is  to  preach  in  Sa- 
vannah, this  day  he  preaches  here,  both  in  Zion  and  in 
Jerusalem  church." 

In  the  spring  of  that  year  a  Spanish  fleet  and  army 
attacked  the  Fort  and  town  of  Friederica,  threatening 
also  Savannah  and  Port  Royal,  but  were  defeated. 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  61 

In  the  month  of  January,  1745,  it  pleased  the  Lord 
to  call  his  servant,  Pastor  Israel  Chr.  Gronau,  from 
his  labor  to  everlasting  rest.  Pastor  Bolzius  describes 
the  last  days  and  hours  of  his  beloved  Christian  brother, 
in  a  letter  to  Senior  Urlsperger,  in  Augsburg,  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  Last  Friday,  the  llth  of  this  month,  at  10  o'clock, 
P.  M.,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  call  my  dear  brother  and 
colleague  to  his  rest.     He  fell  asleep  full  of  joy  in  his 
Savior.     On  a  stormy  and  rainy  day,  nearly  a  year 
since,  he  was  preaching  to  the  Germans  in  Savannah. 
On  that  occasion  he  caught  a  severe  cold  at  church,  so 
that  he  with  great  difficulty  performed  service  here  on 
the  succeeding  Sunday.     Notwithstanding  the  use  of 
the  best  means  in  our  power  for  his  recovery,  his  weak- 
ness increased  and  his  health  declined.     During  the 
last  six  weeks  of  his  life  he  was  afflicted  with  a  con- 
tinued fever.  The  time  of  his  illness  has  been  a  source 
of  edification  to  us,  who  were  daily  about  his  person. 
His  heart  continually  enjoyed  communion  with  his 
Redeemer,  nothing  troubled  him,  for  he  tasted  the 
reconciliation  with  God,  and  the  joy  and  peace  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.     He  was  always  engaged  in  prayer  and 
praise  of  his  Savior.     Every  text,  treating  on  this  sub- 
ject of  all  his  desires,  left  deep  impressions  on  his 
heart,  and  was  the  nourishment  of  his  soul.     He  was 
perfectly  resigned,  received  the  medicine,  that  wras  ad- 
ministered, as  well  as  every  kindness  shewn  him,  with 
gratitude  to  God,  and  was  delighted,  when  visiters 
prayed  with  him.     A  few  days  previous  to  his  depar- 
ture, he  participated  in  the  solemn  memorial  of  his  Sa- 
6* 


62  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

vior's  sufferings  and  death,  with  a  longing  desire. — 
Four  days  previous  to  his  departure,  the  fever  became 
so  violent,  that  he  was  frequently  delirious.  On  re- 
covering from  a  paroxysm,  he  expressed  his  fears,  of 
having  perhaps  unconsciously  said  something  unbe- 
coming the  Christian.  But  this  was  not  the  case,  since 
even  his  imagination  was  filled  with  his  Savior,  and 
all  his  conversation  during  his  mental  absence,  had 
reference  to  that  Redeemer,  in  whom  centered  all  his 
affections.  On  Friday  evening,  his  friends  supposing 
that  his  end  was  approaching,  I  was  sent  for,  and  of- 
fered up  a  prayer  at  his  bed-side,  and  though  my  dear 
brother  was  then  so  feeble,  that  he  could  scarcely 
breathe,  he  still  pronounced  every  word  of  the  prayer 
after  me  very  distinctly  and  with  deep  emotion.  I 
then  pronounced  the  Lord's  blessing  upon  him,  and 
took  leave  of  him  in  these  words :  "  Love  makes  us 
acceptable."  He  still  recognized  all  the  neighbors 
and  friends,  who  stood  around  his  bed,  calling  upon 
them  to  praise  God.  To  his  wife  he  observed,  "  she 
ought  to  be  the  first,"  but  we  know  not,  whether  he 
meant,  that  she  ought  to  be  the  first  in  praises  to  God, 
or  that  he  hoped,  she  would  be  the  first  of  the  bye- 
standers  in  following  him  to  eternity.  When  one  of 
the  Salzburg  brethren  took  hold  of  his  hand,  which 
Mr.  Gronau  had  lifted  up  in  praise  to  God,  to  cover  it 
with  the  bed-clothes,  he  desired,  that  the  friend  might 
support  his  arms,  in  the  uplifted  position,  in  which  he 
had  held  them.  This  being  done,  he  exclaimed : — 
Come  Lord  Jesus  !  Jimen,  Anen.  With  these  words 
he  closed  his  eyes  and  lips,  and  entered  into  the  joy  of 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  63 

his  Lord,  full  of  peace."  So  ended  this  servant  of  the 
Lord !  May  our  end  be  like  his ! 

The  following  extract  of  another  letter  of  Pastor 
Bolzius  is  characteristic  of  his  Christian  humility.  It 
is  addressed  to  Senior  Urlsperger,  in  Augsburg,  con- 
taining the  request  for  a  brother  clergyman  in  the 
place  of  his  departed  friend  and  brother,  Gronau.— 
"May  God  send  me  a  faithful  and  good  man,"  says 
he,  "  in  the  place  of  my  departed  friend.  Will  you 
have  the  goodness  to  select  such  a  one  for  me,  in  as 
much  as  I  shall  not  be  able  for  any  length  of  time  to 
bear  the  burden  of  business,  that  overwhelms  me.  I 
too  feel  the  approach  of  age,  and  may  unexpectedly  be 
called  away.  Could  I  have  my  own  wish,  I  would 
ask  the  favor  of  you  to  send  a  Pastor  primarius  to  this 
place,  so  that  I  might  take  the  station  of  my  departed 
brother.  My  mind  has  frequently  dwelt  on  this  sub- 
ject, especially  during  the  last  illness  of  Mr.  Gronau ; 
and  I  can  assure  you,  that  I  would  prefer,  by  far,  be- 
ing adjunct  to  the  new  pastor,  to  the  retaining  the  sta- 
tion I  now  hold ;  for  I  am  too  weak,  to  stand  in  the 
front  of  the  battle.  May  God  make  an  arrangement 
of  this  kind  practicable." 

The  southern  portion  of  the  church  met  with  another 
loss  during  this  period.  Rev.  Mr.  Driesler  departed 
this  life  at  Friederica  in  1744.  He  had  attended  for 
some  years  to  the  congregation  at  Friederica  on  St.  Si- 
mon's island,  as  observed  before,  and  had  occasion- 
ally preached  in  Savannah  and  Charleston.  He  had 
drawn  his  support  from  no  society  in  Europe,  but  from 
the  English  commanding  officer  in  the  fort  near  Fried- 


64  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

erica.  On  his  arrival  he  found  his  parishioners  nearly 
in  the  same  condition,  in  which  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had 
found  many  congregations  at  the  North.  The  pastors 
of  the  Salzburg  congregation  at  Eben  Ezer  give  him 
the  testimony  of  a  faithful  servant  of  the  Lord.  After 
his  departure  a  Mr.  Zuebli,  from  Switzerland,  seems 
to  have  had  the  charge  of  that  church,  but  it  does  not 
appear,  that  he  was  in  any  way  connected  with  our 
Ebenezer  brethren. 

Their  Journal  of  that  time  mentions  among  other 
things,  that  many  Lutherans  were  settled  in  and  about 
Orangeburg  in  South  Carolina,  and  that  their  preacher 
resided  in  the  village  of  Orangeburg,  however  no  men- 
tion is  made  of  his  name,  nor  of  any  thing  else,  connec- 
ted with  his  office.  From  one  circumstance  mentioned 
without  particular  reference  to  that  congregation  we 
have  to  infer,  that  the  spiritual  slate  of  that  church 
was  by  no  means  pleasing.  A  Mr.  Kiefer,  a  Salzburg 
emigrant  and  member  of  the  Ebenezer  congregation, 
was  living  on  the  Carolina  side  of  the  river  Savannah, 
whose  mother-in-law  resided  at  Orangeburg,  whom 
he  occasionally  visited.  On  one  occasion  he  remar- 
ked after  his  return  to  his  minister,  Pastor  Bolzius,  that 
the  people  at  Orangeburg  were  manifesting  no  hunger 
or  thirst  after  the  word  of  God,  he  was  therefore  an- 
xious that  his  mother-in-law  should  remove  to  his 
plantation,  so  that  she  might  enjoy  the  opportunity  of 
attending  to  the  preaching  of  the  word  of  God,  which 
she  greatly  desired. 

In  1746  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lembke  arrived  in  Ebenezer, 
as  assistant  preacher.  Pastor  Bolzius  received  him 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  65 

with  open  arms.  After  some  time  he  married  the 
widow  of  his  predecessor,  Pastor  Gronau.  Mr.  Bol- 
zius  expresses  his  great  satisfaction  at  the  choice  the 
friends  of  Ebenezer  in  Europe  had  made  in  the  person 
of  Mr.  Lembke,  both  in  his  Journal  and  in  private  let- 
ters. Not  less  pleased  were  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation with  their  new  minister,  and  it  was  soon 
apparent,  that  the  Lord  granted  his  blessing  to  the 
ministration  of  his  word  through  the  instrumentality  of 
his  servant. 


CHAPTER  II. 

From  the  first  Synod  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Amer- 
ica, to  tfie  Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  t/ie 
United  States.  From  1748  to  1776. 

The  work  of  the  Lord  among  the  Protestant  Ger- 
man population  in  the  North  American  colonies,  re- 
quired new  laborers  from  time  to  time.  It  was  not  an 
easy  task  to  the  friends  of  the  Lord's  cause  in  Amer- 
ica, to  supply  the  wants  of  the  German  church  with 
suitable  Pastors.  This  difficulty  induced  the  Theo- 
logical faculty  of  the  university  of  Halle  to  propose  to 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  the  formation  of  a  Synodical  body  in 
Pennsylvania,  with  power  to  examine  and  ordain  the 
ministerial  candidates  already  engaged  in  the  service 
of  the  American  church,  as  well  as  to  take,  in  future, 
such  other  measures,  as  may  advance  her  interest. — 
This  Synod  met,  Aug.  14th,  1748,  in  Philadelphia.— 
The  ministers  present  were : 

DR.  HENRY  MUHLENBFRG,     REV.   MR.    BRUNHOLZ, 
REV.  PROVOST  SANDIN,  "      J.  C.  HARTWIG, 

"     MAGISTER  NAESMAN,         a      HANDSCHUH. 

Provost  Sandin  and  Magister  Naesman  were  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church.  Both  participated  in  the 
conferential  consultation,  as  also  in  the  examination 
and  ordination  of  the  proposed  candidates;  conse- 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  67 

quently  these  Swedish  brethren,  though  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  is  Episcopal, 
acknowledged  the  actus  ministeriales  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  the  mode  of  inducting  min- 
isters into  the  clerical  office  is  consistorial. 

Besides  the  above  named  ministers,  the  lay  dele- 
gates from  the  respective  churches,  and  the  candidate, 
John  JV*.  Kurtz,  were  present.  Some  of  the  occurren- 
ces which  signalized  the  first  American  Lutheran  Sy- 
nod are  so  remarkable  and  important,  that  an  extract 
from  its  proceedings  cannot  but  be  interesting  to  every 
member  of  our  church.* 

The  members  of  the  Synod  having  assembled  in  the 
parsonage  house  in  Philadelphia*.,-  Aug.  14th5  1748, 
proceeded  thence  in  procession  to  St.  Michael's 
church.  After  the  singing  of  a  hymn,  a  letter  of  con- 
gratulation from  the  first  Swedish  minister,  was  read, 
whom  business  prevented  from  attending  in  person. 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  elected  President  of  the  Synod. 
The  first  Synodical  business  seems  to  have  been  the 
solemn  dedication  of  St.  Michael's  church  as  a  house 
of  worship  for  members  of  the  Lutheran  communion. 
After  two  addresses  from  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  Pro- 
vost Sandin,  to  the  assembled  congregation,  in  which 
the  Speakers  directed  the  attention  of  Synod  and  peo- 
ple to  the  fact,  that  the  corner  stone  of  this  church  had 
been  laid,  that  the  building  erected  on  the  same  should 
be  an  edifice,  in  which  the  doctrine  of  the  Ev.  Luthe- 

*  This  extract  is  taken  from  "  Nachrichten  aus  Pennsylvanien;" 
i.  e.  Accounts  from  Pennsylvania,  published  at  Halle,  from  let- 
ters and  journals  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  and  others. 


68  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

ran  church,  built  upon  the  ground  of  the  Prophets  and 
the  Apostles,  should  be  taught  according  to  the  unchan- 
ged Augsburg  confession,  and  the  other  Symbolic 
books  ;  the  church  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  use  of 
the  preached  word  and  the  dispensation  of  the  holy  Sa- 
craments in  conformity  to  the  Symbolic  books,  and  the 
church  council  were  earnestly  admonished  to  watch  as 
long  as  Almighty  God  should  protect  the  building  a- 
gainst  accidents,  that  this  house  might  be  preserved  and 
kept  for  the  above  named  purposes  to  the  latest  gene- 
rations. After  the  singing  of  some  verses,  both  minis- 
ters, lay  delegates  and  people,  knelt  in  prayer  before 
God.  One  of  the  Swedish  and  one  of  the  German 
ministers  addressed  the  throne  of  grace  fervently ;  the 
former  in  the  Swedish,  the  latter  in  the  German  lan- 
guage. After  the  prayer,  Baptism  was  administered 
to  an  infant,  after  which  Pastor  Handschuh  delivered 
a  sermon,  at  the  close  of  which  all  the  ministers,  dele- 
gates, and  a  number  of  the  congregation,  surrounded 
the  Lord's  table.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day 
Pastor  Hartwig  preached  on  the  text:  "His  blood 
will  I  require  at  thy  hand."  Ezek.  xxxiii.  8.  After 
sermon  the  ordained  ministers,  both  Swedish  and 
German,  surrounded  the  altar,  the  formulary  of  ordi. 
nation  was  read,  and  under  the  imposition  of  hands  of 
all  the  ministers,  the  candidate,  JV.  Kurtz,  was  sol- 
emnly set  apart  for  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

The  settlement  at  Waldoborough,  in  Maine,  was 
lying  waste,  as  already  observed,  until  after  the  peace 
of  Jlixla  Chapelle,  in  Oct.,  1748;  when  the  tragic 
story  of  the  destruction  of  the  old  settlement,  or  some 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  69 

other  incident  turned  the  thoughts  of  other  Germans 
towards  the  same  region  for  a  place  of  refuge.  Sym- 
pathies have  strong  attractions,  and  the  soil,  that  had 
drunk  the  blood  of  their  martyred  brethren,  was  to 
them  consecrated  ground.  Hence  a  German  gentle- 
man by  the  name  of  Crell,  early  in  1750,  made  a  voy- 
age across  the  Atlantic,  on  an  errand  of  inquiry,  what 
places  would  be  found  most  eligible,  and  what  en- 
couragement could  be  given  to  emigrants.  He  pre- 
sented a  memorial  to  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts, in  which  he  proposed  to  remove  a  considerable 
number  of  Protestant  families  from  Germany  to  this 
country,  provided  a  favorable  prospect  offered,  of  sup- 
porting themselves  here.  The  Governor  recommen- 
ded the  petition  to  the  Legislature,  stating  that  he 
deemed  it  important  to  encourage  the  settlement  of 
these  Germans  among  us,  as  they  would  introduce 
many  useful  manufactures  and  arts.  The  Legislature, 
being  of  the  same  opinion,  adopted  provisional  mea- 
sures for  their  accommodation  and  comfort ;  for  natu- 
ralizing them  and  their  families,  and  for  encouraging 
their  ministers  and  interpreters  on  their  arrival.  The 
next  year,  1751,  between  twenty  and  thirty  families 
came  over,  with  Mr.  Etter,  their  interpreter,  and  their 
necessities  were  relieved  the  ensuing  winter  at  the 
public  expense,  as  well  as  by  private  charities.  Even 
beds,  bedding,  and  other  articles  were  furnished  them, 
till  their  removal  to  Broad  Bay,  and  other  places  of 
residence.  Thus  the  German  settlement  was  revived 
at  the  present  Waldoborough  in  the  spring  of  1752. 
At  the  same  time,  Gen.  Samuel  Waldo,  principal  pro- 
7 


70  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

prietor  of  the  Muscongus  patent,  seized  upon  the  oc- 
casion as  a  favorable  one,  to  increase  its  settlement, 
and  sent  his  son  to  Germany,  who  issued  circulars, 
promising  every  man,  who  would  emigrate,  and  reside 
upon  his  patent,  a  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  also  as- 
sistance on  the  soil  to  make  beginnings  there. 

Encouraged  by  these  offers,  about  1500  Germans 
emigrated,  from  time  to  time,  and  settled  at  Broad 
Bay  and  at  Broad  Cove,  on  the  westerly  side  of  the 
Muscongus  river.  In  the  outset  some  of  the  settlers 
had  brought  money  with  them,  and  lived  comfortably, 
while  the  living  of  others  was  very  poor,  and  their 
sufferings  great.  Early  in  the  French  war,  which 
commenced,  1755,  they  were  attacked  and  cruelly 
treated  by  the  Indians,  some  being  killed  and  others 
carried  alive  to  Canada. — But  the  war  was  hardly  clo- 
sed, when  this  quiet  and  excellent  people  were  per- 
plexed with  troubles  from  another  and  unexpected 
quarter.  By  the  report  of  a  committee,  Feb.  3,  1762, 
accepted  by  the  Legislature,  the  Waldo  or  Muscongus 
patent  was  confined  between  the  rivers  Penobscot  and 
Muscongus ;  and  consequently  all  the  inhabitants  on 
the  westerly  side  of  the  latter  river,  which  constituted 
the  greater  part  of  the  plantations,  were  without  any 
title  to  their  lands,  as  the  deeds  from  Waldo  gave 
them  none.  Hence  they  were  liable  to  lose  their  buil- 
dings and  improvements,  and  be  turned  out  of  doors. 
In  this  dilemma,  the  troubled  settlers  at  once,  to  the 
number  of  50  or  60  families,  re-purchased  their  lands 
in  1763-4,  and  took  deeds  of  the  Drowne  proprietors, 
who  had  established  their  title  to  them,  under  an  old 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  71 

patent  of  1631 ;  granted  to  Eldridge  and  Aldsworth. 
At  the  same  time  a  possessory  right,  called  the 
"  Brown  claim"  was  raised  to  the  same  lands,  in  vir- 
tue of  ancient  settlement  and  occupancy ;  and  many 
attempts  were  made  to  establish  this  title.  Others  of 
the  German  settlers  had  made  their  improvements 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Waldo  patent,  as  recognized 
by  the  Legislature  ;  yet,  not  having  obtained  any  deeds 
from  General  Waldo  previous  to  his  death  in  1759, 
they  were  molested  by  his  heirs.  Thus  they  were  left 
in  the  midst  of  extreme  affliction,  contrary  to  every 
principle  of  justice  and  good  faith,  without  the  least 
remuneration  or  indemity  for  all  their  losses.  Justly 
affronted  by  such  neglect,  ill  treatment  and  injury,  dis- 
appointed in  their  expectations,  displeased  with  the 
climate,  and  determined  to  be  rid  of  law  suits,  a  large 
number  of  families  resolved  to  leave  the  settlement  for 
a  Southern  climate.  They  sold  their  rights  of  posses- 
sion for  what  they  could  obtain,  and  in  1773  removed 
from  Maine,  and  joined  their  German  Brethren  in 
South  Carolina,  under  the  benevolent  auspices  of  its 
Legislature.  It  was  with  the  deepest  regret,  that  their 
neighbors  and  brethren  parted  writh  them.  Nay — all, 
who  knew  any  thing  of  them,  lamented  their  remo- 
val,— for  they  were  mostly  husbandmen  of  excellent 
moral  character,  and  considerable  agricultural  skill, 
distinguished  for  their  industrious  and  economical  ha- 
bits. Of  those  who  went  to  Carolina  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Silly )  their  pious  clergyman,  some  remained  in  the 
South,  most  of  them,  however,  returned ;  the  ex- 
pense incurred,  and  loss  of  time,  having  greatly  in- 


72  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

creased  their  indigence.  But  they  were  received  with 
open  hearts  and  open  arms.  These  emigrant  settlers 
came  originally  from  different  parts  of  Germany. — 
When  they  first  settled  at  Broad  Bay,  now  Waldobo- 
rough,  they  formed  a  church  in  two  branches,  of  Ger- 
man Reformed  and  of  Lutheran  professors  of  religion. 
Though  at  first  destitute  of  a  minister,  they  appear  to 
have  met  on  the  Lord's  day,  for  mutual  edification. 
It  seems,  that  previous  to  the  removal  of  a  number  of 
these  Germans  to  the  South,  they  had  attended  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Silly,  and  after  his  departure  they  ob- 
tained the  services  of  the  Rev.  John  M.  Schaeffer,  in 
year  1762,  wTho  continued  to  officiate  for  them  until 
his  death  in  1782. 

In  the  commencement  of  1750,  the  congregation  at 
-Schoharie  resolved  to  build  a  house  of  worship.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  by  the  Pastor,  Mr.  Sommer, 
with  appropriate  solemnities,  May  the  10th.,  1750,  and 
on  the  6th  of  May,  1751,  it  was  dedicated  to  the  wor- 
ship of  Almighty  God.  Towards  the  close  of  the 
same  year,  he  took  farewell  of  the  congregations  at 
Stone- Arabia,  Little  Falls,  and  Canojoharie,  and  gave 
these  churches  into  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  John  Fred- 
erick Rees.  But  let  us  not  suppose  that  Br.  Sommer 
left  these  charges,  because  he  hoped  to  lessen  his  la- 
bors ;  no,  his  sole  aim  was,  to  turn  his  attention  to 
places  still  destitute,  as  soon  as  he  saw  one  portion  of 
the  church  provided  with  the  bread  of  life.  In  1758 
he  took  charge  of  a  newly  formed  congregation  in  the 
town  of  Cobleskill.  He  continued  his  extensive  ac- 
tivity until  1768,  when,  by  a  dispensation  of  Divine 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  73 

Providence,  he  was  deprived  of  his  sight.  He  still 
continued,  however,  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  his  of- 
fice with  great  faithfulness  in  the  Schoharie  congrega- 
tion, not  without  blessing,  for  twenty  more  years. — 
During  his  ministration  he  received  443  persons  by 
confirmation  into  the  church  at  Schoharie. 

In  the  year  1748  the  Lutheran  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Reading,  in  Pennsylvania,  had  formed  them- 
selves into  a  congregation,  and  applied  to  the  ministe- 
rium,  assembled  in  Synod,  for  a  Pastor.  The  Rev. 
John  Albert  Wygandt,  who  some  years  before  had  been 
engaged  by  a  colony  of  Germans,  from  the  Palatinate, 
as  their  preacher  in  America,  though  only  a  candidate 
of  Theology,  was  sent  to  the  congregation  in  Reading 
by  the  ministerium,  as  preacher  and  instructor  of  the 
young,  with  the  hope  that,  meanwhile,  salutary  and 
scriptual  order  would  be  introduced  into  that  church, 
so  that  an  ordained  minister  might  be  sent  to  them. 

Pastor  Hartwig  was  the  minister  of  the  Lutheran 
congregations  in  the  county  of  Hunterdon,  Ne\v  Jer- 
sey, but  soon  after  the  first  Synod,  accepted  the  call 
as  minister  of  the  congregation  in  the  city  of  New 
York.*  This  congregation  consisting  of  members  from 

*New  York  having  been  taken  possession  of  in  1613,  the  Re- 
monstrants, or  followers  of  Arminius,  being  deprived  of  many  of 
their  rights  as  citizens  in  Holland  after  the  Synod  of  Dortrecht, 
1618,  sought  for  new  homes  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  and 
some  of  them  came  to  New  York,  then  called  New  Amsterdam. 
After  the  repeal  of  the  edict  of  Nantes  in  France,  Protestant 
Frenchmen  united  with  the  refugees  of  Holland  in  the  building 
of  a  house  of  worship.  When  England  had  taken  possession  of 
the  colony,  1664,  German  Protestants  from  the  Rhine  settled  in 
7* 


74  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

three  nations,  Hollanders,  Germans,  and  French,  had 
not  been  united  heart  and  hand,  because  the  members 
of  each  nation  were  desirous  that  service  should  be 
performed  in  the  language  of  the  respective  countries, 
from  which  they  had  proceeded,  each  party  being  too 
weak  to  form  a  church,  and  it  was  almost  impossible, 
to  obtain  one  minister,  able  to  do  justice  to  his  office 
in  three  different  languages.  To  all  this  is  to  be  ad- 
ded, that  since  the  beginning  of  the  18th  century  the 
number  of  German  members  had  increased  so  much 
as  to  constitute  by  far  the  majority  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  consequently  they  were  desirous  of  having  the 
service  performed  in  the  German  language,  while  the 
original  constitution  or  charter  of  the  church  prescribed 
that  it  should  be  performed  in  the  Holland  or  Dutch 
language.  In  consequence  of  these  bickerings  and  dis- 
agreements, Pastor  Hartwig,  soon  discovering  his  ina- 
bility to  produce  harmony  and  friendship  among  the 
members  of  a  church  so  distracted,  requested  Pastor 
Muhlenberg  to  visit  this  congregation,  with  a  view  to 
restore  harmony.  All  the  faithful  members  of  the 
church  united  their  entreaties  with  those  of  Pastor 
Hartwig,  so  that  the  Doctor  resolved  to  pay  them  a 
visit;  previously,  however,  another  Synod  was  held 
in  May,  1749,  at  Lancaster,  during  which  Candidate 
Schaum  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  York- 
town.  The  ministers  present  at  this  Synod  were, 
Muhlenberg,  Brunholz,  Handschuh,  N.  Kurtz,  and 

New  York,  many  of  whom  understood  either  the  Dutch  or  the 
French  language,  and  therefore  united  more  readily  with  their 
Protestant  brethren  of  these  nations,  than  with  the  English. 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  75 

Schaura.  It  appears,  from  the  Journals  of  that  time,  that 
there  were  Lutheran  congregations  in  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  as  much  as  it  is  stated  that  Rev.  Mr.  Klug, 
from  Virginia,  paid  a  visit  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg.  During 
the  visit  of  the  latter,  in  N»  York,  he  perceived  that  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hartwig  was  not  calculated  to  restore  peace 
to  the  distracted  congregation  of  New  York,  and  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  accept  a  call  from  the  congregations 
in  Duchess  county,  viz :  Rhinebeck  and  the  Camp. 
About  this  time,  the  congregations  on  the  North  river 
began  to  discover  the  importance  of  the  grant  of  lands 
made  to  them  50  years  before ;  but  these  lands  had  been 
seized  by  the  colonial  governors,  and  by  them  had 
been  converted  into  objects  of  speculation.  Remon- 
strances were  made,  but  empty  promises  of  grants  of 
land  in  the  western  portions  of  the  colony,  in  exchange 
for  the  lands  on  the  Hudson,  were  all  they  could  ob- 
tain. Pastor  Muhlenberg  succeeded  during  his  visit 
in  New  York  to  restore  peace  to  that  congregation,  by 
stipulating  that  in  Grace  church  the  services  should  be 
conducted  in  the  Dutch  language,  agreeable  to  the 
charter,  and  the  church  agreed  to  aid  the  German 
part  in  the  erection  of  a  new  building  in  William,  cor- 
ner of  Frankfort  street,  in  which  the  word  of  God 
should  be  preached  in  the  German  language. 

Among  the  remarkable  occurrences  of  1749  we  no- 
tice the  printing  of  the  first  American  edition  of  Lu- 
ther's catechism,  published  in  Franklin's  printing 
office,  Philadelphia.  In  the  same  year  a  new  Luthe- 
ran church  was  finished  at  New  Germantown,  State 
of  New  Jersey,  and  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  service 


76  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

of  God  by  the  Brethren,  Brunholz,  Handschuh,  Hart- 
wig,  Schaum  and  Kurtz.  This  building  is  still  in  use 
as  the  place  of  worship  of  that  congregation.  In  the 
middle  of  the  18th  century  the  number  of  German 
Lutheran  ministers  ordained  in  the  English  North 
American  colonies,  excepting  Nova  Scotia,  amounted 
to  sixteen,  of  which  eight  were  connected  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Synod ;  of  the  others,  four  resided  in  the 
colony  of  New  York,  one  in  Maryland,  one  in  Virgi- 
nia, and  two  in  Georgia.  Although  distance  of  resi- 
dence prevented  half  of  their  number  from  a  personal 
attendance  at  the  yearly  Synodical  meetings,  still  a 
brotherly  connexion  was  maintained  between  these 
brethren,  by  mutual  correspondence  and  occasional 
visits. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  harmony  still  existing  between 
the  Swedish,  Dutch  and  German  Lutheran  ministers 
about  that  time,  we  mention,  that  at  the  meeting  of 
Synod  in  1754  at  New  Hanover,  ministers  of  the 
three  nations  not  only  participated  as  members  of  that 
body  in  its  consultations,  but  they  also  agreed  to  keep 
a  day  of  humiliation,  prayer  and  thanks,  in  their  res- 
pective churches,  at  the  time  apppointed  by  Synod. — 
Other  proofs  of  this  existing  harmony  occurred  seve- 
ral years  later,  of  which  notice  shall  be  taken  in  the 
proper  order  of  time.  Difficulties  had  arisen  in  the 
congregation  at  Lancaster,  in  Pennsylvania,  between 
their  minister,  Pastor  Handschuh,  and  some  members 
of  the  church ;  attempts  at  a  re-union  and  restoration 
to  order  having  failed  of  success,  Pastor  Handschuh 
left  that  congregation,  and  accepted  the  pastoral  care 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  77 

of  the  church  in  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia.  At 
the  Synod  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1751  were  present, 
Muhlenberg,  Brunholz,  Handschuh,  Hartwig,  Kurtz 
Wygandt,  and  Shenk.  Rev.  Mr.  Schaum  was  unable 
to  attend,  on  account  of  illness.  These  Synodical 
meetings  were  attended  with  many  blessings.  They 
served  on  the  one  hand  to  strengthen  the  bonds  of  love 
and  Christian  fellowship  between  ministers  and  people, 
and  on  the  other  the  public  services  on  these  occasions 
were  blessed  to  the  awakening  and  edifying  of  many 
of  the  hearers.  Towards  the  close  of  the  year  the 
Brethren,  Heinzelman,  FT.  Schulze,  and  Gerok,  arri- 
ved in  Philadelphia,  from  Germany.  The  Brethren 
Heinzelman  and  Schulze  had  been  ordained  by  the 
consistory  of  Wernigerode,  in  Lower  Saxony,  and 
Pastor  Gerok  by  that  of  Darmstadt,  in  Hessia.  Pas- 
tor Heinzelman  became  the  assistant  preacher  to  Pas- 
tor Brunholz,  in  Philadelphia,  Pastor  Schulze  accepted 
a  call  from  the  churches  at  New  Goshenhoppen  and  In- 
dian field.  Pastor  Gerok  was  invited  to  take  charge 
of  the  church  at  Lancaster. 

We  observed  above,  that  the  number  of  regular  Lu- 
theran ministers  in  the  North  American  colonies,  No- 
va Scotia  excepted,  amounted  in  the  middle  of  the  I8lh 
century,  to  sixteen  ;  they  administered  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  about  forty  organized  congregations,  scattered 
over  the  large  continent  from  Maine  to  Georgia,  of 
whom  twenty-three  were  in  connexion  with  the  Synod 
of  Pennsylvania,  the  others  being  at  too  great  a  dis- 
tance to  derive  any  benefit  from  that  connexion.  The 
state  of  the  church  was  by  no  means  what  it  ought  to 


78  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

have  been.  The  ministers  frequently  complain  of  the 
worldly  spirit  ruling  among  the  flocks  entrusted  to  their 
charge,  and  justly  ascribe  this  lamentable  state  of  things 
to  the  want  of  instruction,  which  had  existed  previous  to 
the  organization  of  the  churches,  and  to  the  scarcity  of 
ministers  to  supply  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people. 
Notwithstanding  the  faithfulness  and  persevering  ef- 
forts of  the  ministers  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties, 
they  were  unable  to  attend  to  the  scattered  churches 
as  they  desired,  and  as  the  situation  of  the  people  re- 
quired. The  natural  inclination  of  mankind  to  worldly 
objects,  and  consequent  aversion  perseveringly  to  at- 
tend to  the  concerns  of  the  immortal  soul,  also  greatly 
impeded  the  effects  of  the  word  of  God.  Pastor  Brun- 
holz  says  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  in  Halle,  written  in 
1752  :  "I  cannot  say  much  in  favor  of  the  large  body 
of  our  people.  The  Lord  has  given  me  a  gleaning 
in  some  few,  who  have  been  awakened  by  the  word, 
to  seek  the  paths  of  peace,  and  who  are  anxious  to  be 
prepared  for  the  rest  of  God.  Among  our  young 
people  I  have  been  able  to  labor  with  greater  satis- 
faction. The  instructions  given  them,  have  been 
peculiarly  blessed.  Many  of  our  youths  take  their 
Bibles  to  church,  look  for  the  quoted  passages,  and 
give  suitable  answers  to  the  questions  proposed." 
The  first  heralds  of  the  gospel  in  our  American  church 
manifest  in  all  their  actions  a  strong  desire  for  the  in- 
troduction of  church  discipline.  The  church  regula- 
tions, introduced  by  Pastor  Muhlenberg  into  the  con- 
gregations which  he  was  instrumental  in  forming  and 
organizing,  contain  the  foundation  of  an  excellent  dis- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  79 

cipline ;  all  our  Liturgies,  both  ancient  and  modern, 
refer  us  to  the  existence  of  a  church  discipline  in  the 
reception  of  all  new  members,  to  whom  the  privileges 
of  the  church  are  granted,  "  so  long  as  their  conduct 
shall  correspond  with  their  profession."  These  very  ex- 
pressions manifest,  that  we  acknowledge  the  existence 
of  a  body  in  the  church,  which  has  power  to  say, 
whether  the  walk  and  conversation  of  the  members 
does  correspond  with  their  profession,  and  this  power 
is  in  the  church  regulations  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg, 
vested  in  the  church  councils  and  the  congregations 
in  the  first  instance,  and  both  practice  as  well  as  the 
statutes  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  shew,  that  the  ex- 
ercise of  such  discipline  has  been  sanctioned  by  the 
Synod,  and  that  in  cases  of  any  unbecoming  or  immo- 
ral conduct  of  minister  s,  the  Synod  and  Ministerium 
were  applied  to  as  judges.  The  objections  to  church 
discipline  frequently  made  in  modern  times,  and  sup- 
ported by  the  assertion,  that  such  discipline  is  not  re- 
cognized in  the  European  Lutheran  church,  is  inappli- 
cable to  America.  For  in  countries,  where  church 
and  State  are  united,  the  powers  of  jurisdiction  are 
altogether  in  the  hands  of  the  civil  law,  and  the  con- 
sistories and  Synods  are  not  permitted  to  interfere, 
except  in  Holland,  where  the  Lutheran  church  being 
merely  tolerated,  and  consequently  without  provision 
by  law,  was,  in  regard  to  discipline,  wholly  subjected 
to  the  rules  of  the  Amsterdam  consistory,  which  exer- 
cised a  spiritual  control  over  ministers  and  lay  mem- 
bers, connected  with  the  church  in  the  Netherland 
dominions.  But  according  to  the  free  institutions  of 


80  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

our  own  country,  the  civil  arm  has  no  connexion  or 
authority  over  the  church,  which  is  left  to  manage  its 
own  affairs.  A  church  government,  unconnected  with 
the  civil  authorities,  is  therefore  absolutely  required 
among  us,  and'  consequently  also  bodies,  to  exercise 
the  same ;  and  unless  unlimited  power  were  granted 
to  these  bodies,  a  code  of  laws  is  as  necessary  in  the 
church,  as  it  is  in  the  State. 

There  are  also  other  reasons  why  a  church  discipline 
in  the  American  Christian  denominations  should  be  ac- 
ceptable and  dear  to  their  respective  members.  In  Eu- 
rope, the  people  are,  by  birth,  members  of  some  Chris- 
tian denomination,  as  they  are,  by  the  same,  citizens  or 
subjects  of  some  realm ;  but  in  America  \ve  become 
members  of  a  church  by  our  own  choice,  and  there- 
fore ought  with  the  same  readiness  take  upon  ourselves 
the  obligations  of  that  society  \vith  which  we  volunta- 
rily connect  ourselves,  which  we  exercise  in  acquies- 
cing in  the  civil  institutions  of  our  country,  which  the 
forefathers  of  the  American  people  have  framed  for  the 
good  of  the  whole  and  of  each  individual  part,  as  well 
as  for  the  preservation  of  our  liberties.  But  it  is  time 
that  we  return  from  this  digression,  and  take  up  the 
thread  of  history. 

Pastor  Wygandt,  who  had  for  some  time  ministered 
to  the  congregations  in  Hunter  don  and  Morris  coun- 
ties in  New  Jersey,  but  had  accepted  a  call. to  serve 
the  congregation  in  New  York  city,  and  the  churches 
situated  in  Bergen  and  Rockland  counties,  was  labor- 
ing in  this  field  with  the  blessing  of  God ;  so  that 
when  Dr.  Muhlenberg  re-visited  these  congregations, 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  81 

he  found  them  enjoying  spiritual  peace  and  prosperity. 
Pastor  Schenk  was  his  successor  in  Hunterdon  county. 
Not  so  pleasing  were  the  circumstances  in  the  town  of 
Reading,  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania.  A  call  had 
been  tendered  to  a  Magister  Wagener,  which  had  been 
accepted.  Disharmony,  however,  soon  arose  between 
him  and  the  congregation,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  connexion  was  dissolved,  and  Candidate  Schu- 
macher was  finally  chosen  pastor.  This  took  place 
in  the  year  1752.  About  the  same  time,  Pastor  Hou- 
sil  took  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Fredericktown, 
in  Maryland.  This  brother  came  from  Nova  Scotia, 
whither  he  had  been  sent  by  the  Lutheran  consistory 
ofRotterdanij  in  Holland.  The  accounts  published  at 
Halle,  in  Germany,  concerning  the  Lutheran  churches 
in  America,  make  frequent  mention  of  German  settle- 
ments in  that  British  province,  and  also,  that  Pastor 
Muhlenberg  received  a  call  from  that  quarter,  which 
he,  however,  did  not  accept.  Later  dates  not  only 
confirm  the  existence  of  Lutheran  congregations  in 
that  country,  but  add,  that  they  are  numerous,  and 
that  a  Bishop,  ordained  in  Sweden,  superintends  the 
churches,  the  greater  part  of  which  are  situated  West 
of  Halifax,  in  the  county  of  Lunenburg.  It  is  deser- 
ving of  notice,  that  the  congregation  of  Frederick  stip- 
ulated in  the  call  presented  to  Mr.  Housil,  that  he  was- 
to  form  a  connexion  with  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania ; 
a  circumstance  which  evidently  proves  that  this  con- 
gregation considered  a  Sy nodical  bond  of  union  essen- 
tial to  the  welfare  of  the  Lutheran  church.  We  have, 
on  several  occasions,  in  this  volume,  given  examples 
8 


82  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

from  which  the  harmony  and  union  between  the  Swe- 
dish and  German  Lutheran  pastors  and  churches  ap- 
pear in  the  clearest  light.  This  bond  of  union  not 
only  continued,  but  seems  to  have  been  strengthened 
toward  the  close  of  the  sixth  and  during  the  seventh 
decennium  of  the  18th  century.  At  the  funeral  of  Pas- 
tor Heinzelman,  in  Philadelphia,  Provost  Acrelius,  of 
the  Swedish  church,  preached  the  funeral  sermon  in 
English,  baptized  his  son,  who  was  born  24  hours  af- 
ter the  death  of  his  father,  and  stood  God-father  on 
that  occasion;  and  when,  after  the  departure  of  Pastor 
Brunholz  in  1757,  Pastor  Handschuh  was  for  some  time 
the  only  German  Lutheran  minister  in  Philadelphia, 
Provost  Wrangel,  of  the  Swedish  church,  assisted 
Pastor  Handschuh  for  some  time,  by  preaching  Ger- 
man in  St.  Michael's  church  every  Sunday  evening. 
During  the  year  1760,  a  Synod  of  the  united  American 
Lutheran  church  of  the  Swedish  and  German  nations, 
was  held  at  Philadelphia.  Provost  Wrangel,  read  the 
instructions,  which  he  had  received  from  the  Swedish 
Archbishop  of  Upsal,  in  regard  to  the  brethren  of  the 
German  church.  The  most  important  articles  thereof 
are,  that  he,  together  with  the  Swedish  ministerium  in 
America,  should  endeavor  to  live  in  brotherly  harmony 
and  friendship  with  the  German  American  ministerium, 
that  they  should  attend  its  yearly  Synodical  meetings, 
and  invite  the  German  ministers  to  participate  in  the 
deliberations  of  their  conventions,  and  that  the  Swe- 
dish ministerium  should  assist  the  German  Brethren 
in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  united  American  Lu- 
theran church  of  both  nations.  Pastor  Wrangel  acted 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN  CHURCH.  83 

in  conformity  to  these  instructions,  not  only  during 
the  sessions  of  that  Synod,  but  during  his  stay  in  Amer- 
ica. He  was  present  at  all  the  meetings  of  the  Ger- 
man Synod,  with  those  of  his  brethren,  who  understood 
and  spoke  the  German  language ;  they  assisted  in  the 
examinations  of  the  candidates  and  in  their  ordinations, 
and  in  one  case,  Provost  Wrangel  ordained  a  German 
Lutheran  minister.  We  mention  this  circumstance  to 
show,  that,  though  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  is 
Episcopal  in  its  Government,  it  nevertheless  recognises 
the  ordination  of  the  German  branch  of  the  same  church, 
and  its  consistorial  mode  of  setting  apart  and  of  induc- 
ting Pastors  into  the  ministry.  During  the  sessions  of 
this  Synod,  the  English  translation  of  Luther's  smaller 
catechism,  by  Dr.  Wrangel,  published  that  year  for  the 
use  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  churches,  was  approved 
of  by  the  ministerium  of  the  German  nation,  and  rec- 
ommended for  introduction  in  those  churches,  in  which 
the  English  language  began  to  prevail.  The  ministerium 
of  the  united  church  likewise  decided,  during  this  mee- 
ting, several  important  pastoral  questions,  of  which  the\ 
following  are  peculiarly  deserving  the  attention  of  min- 
isterial brethren  of  the  present  day.  The  first  was : 
"  Is  it  expedient,  to  continue  the  yearly  meetings  of  pas- 
tors and  lay  delegates  ?"  The  decision  by  vote,  was 
as  follows :  "  It  is  highly  expedient  and  useful  that  la- 
borers of  one  master,  and  in  one  vineyard,  should  be 
intimately  acquainted  with  each  other,  that  the  bond 
of  Christian  love  may  be  cemented,  that  ministers  may 
consult  together  on  the  extension  of  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  each  one,  according  to  the  measure  of  grace 


84  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

received,  may  labor  for  the  common  good  that  they 
may  encourage,  exhort  and  comfort  each  other,  de- 
cide questions  of  conscience,  in  love,  with  mildness, 
simplicity  and  Christian  humility :  that  they  may  dis- 
cover and  amend  mutual  failings ;  settle  differences  and 
causes  of  suspicion,  in  as  much  as  a  family  or  king- 
dom at  variance  with  itself  cannot  stand ;  and  as  a 
spiritual  union  and  harmony  among  ministers  is  calcu- 
lated to  make  a  deep  impression  on  the  minds  of 
friends  and  foes,  a  Synodical  meeting  is  calculated  to 
keep  out  of  the  church  disorderly  men,  pretending  to 
claim  the  ministerial  office,  and  by  its  means  our  young 
ministers  may  also  enjoy  opportunities  to  learn  from 
the  experience  of  the  elder." 

The  second  question  was :  "  Where  shall  this  yearly 
Synodical  meeting  be  held1?  "  Reply :  "  Change  is  ne- 
cessary and  useful ;  our  congregations  have  an  equal 
right,  none  is  subject  to  the  other, — next  year  the  Sy- 
nod shall  be  held  at  Lancaster." 

The  third  question:  "  Which  is  the  best  method  of 
instructing  children  in  the  doctrines  of  religion*?" — 
Answer:  "The  same  catechism  is  to  be  introduced 
into  all  our  churches ;  the  congregational  schools  are 
to  be  frequently  visited  by  the  pastors ;  in  the  families, 
meetings  for  private  edification  are  to  be  attended  to, 
as  also  catechisation  of  the  young  people  in  the  presence 
of  their  parents,  the  religious  truths  are  to  be  presented 
to  the  household  in  a  simple,  plain  and  impressive 
manner,  and  the  young  are  to  be  directed  to  the  proper 
Scripture  proofs.  Excessive  memorising  is  to  be  dis- 
countenanced, and  whatever  children  do  memorise,  is 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  85 

to  be  explained,  so  that  the  Christian  doctrines  may 
not  only  be  instilled  into  the  memory,  but  also  be  com- 
prehended by  the  understanding  and  tJie  heart.  During 
Pastoral  visits  the  minister  ought  also  to  exhort  the 
members,  not  to  introduce  any  injurious  books  into 
the  family.  Both  ministers  and  school  teachers  should 
earnestly  strive,  that  the  word  of  God  may  continue 
to  be  held  in  the  highest  estimation  by  the  people  con- 
nected with  our  church." 

The  fourth  question:  "  Which  is  the  most  advantor- 
geous  method  of  preaching  the  gospel?"  Answer  :  "A 
chapter  of  the  Bible  ought  always  to  be  read,  the  sermon 
ought  never  to  last  longer  than  three  quarters  of  an 
hour,  and  it  ought  afterwards  to  be  reviewed  by  ques- 
tions and  answers.  Depth  of  learning  ought  not  to 
be  brought  into  the  pulpit ;  the  preacher  ought  to  con- 
descend to  the  comprehension  of  the  most  illiterate ; — 
subjects  ought  not  to  crowd  each  other,  but  should  be 
fully  proved,  and  practically  applied  to  the  heart.  Per- 
sonalities should  never  be  brought  into  the  pulpit,  but 
be  settled  during  pastoral  visits ;  the  ministers  ought 
to  sow  in  tears,  keep  in  view  the  edification  of  every 
individual  member  of  their  flock,  and  to  take  heed  to 
themselves  and  the  doctrine." 

The  fifth  question:  "  What  have  ministers  to  observe 
in  regard  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Lord's  Supper?"  An- 
swer: "The  doctrine  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  by  no 
means  to  be  neglected,  but  is  to  be  explained  agreea- 
bly to  the  word  of  God.  This  doctrine  is  frequently 
handled  in  a  cold  and  indifferent  manner,  sometimes 
also  too  high  and  incomprehensibly,  and  by  others 
8* 


86  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

with  too  much  neglect.  If  this  doctrine  is  properly 
understood,  and  applied  as  the  best  friend  of  man  de- 
sired it  should  be,  it  becomes  a  consoling  means  of 
grace,  an  assistance  in  our  conversion,  a  practical  ap- 
plication of  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement,  an  essen- 
tial part  of  the  new  covenant,  a  treasure  exceeding 
all  other  treasures." 

Messrs.  William  Kurtz  and  Paul  Brizelius  were  ex- 
amined before  the  Synod,  and  received  candidate  li- 
cense to  preach  and  to  administer  the  Sacraments. 
Pastor  Muhlenberg  was  during  the  recesses  of  the 
Synodical  meetings,  unremittingly  engaged  in  build- 
ing up  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  within  the  precincts 
of  the  American  Lutheran  church.  In  Hackensack, 
Bergen  county,  he  introduced  Pastor  William  Graf, 
as  minister,  organized  the  congregation  of  German 
Valley,  in  Morris  county,  of  the  same  State,  and  in- 
ducted Mr.  Brizelius  into  the  ministerial  office  of  this 
and  the  New  Germantown  congregation  in  Hunter- 
don  county.  The  congregation  in  Fredericktown, 
Maryland,  was  also  visited  by  him  about  that  time. 
It  appears  from  the  records,  that  both  in  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  a  law  had  been  passed,  which  oblig- 
ed all  the  inhabitants  of  these  colonies,  to  what  church 
soever  they  might  adhere,  to  pay  a  ministerial  tax, 
from  which  the  English  Episcopal  clergy  were  to 
receive  their  support.  The  German  congregations 
in  those  regions  applied  to  Pastor  Muhlenberg  to  in- 
tercede for  them,  that  a  portion  of  this  tax  might 
be  applied  to  the  relief  of  the  German  Lutheran  cler- 
gy, whose  congregations  could  not  be  benefitted  by  the 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  87 

services  of  the  Episcopal  ministers,  on  account  of  the 
difference  in  the  language.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  did  make 
application  to  the  colonial  government  during  his  visit 
for  that  purpose,  and  obtained  the  promise  that  <£600 
currency  should  be  paid  by  the  proper  officer  to  the 
Lutheran  clergyman  as  German  county  minister,  and 
the  Doctor  was  invited  to  accept  this  situation.  The 
congregation  in  Frederick  united  their  wishes  with 
those  of  the  government,  but  Pastor  Muhlenberg  did 
not  see  fit  to  accede  to  the  wishes  of  either.  In  1760, 
the  church  in  Yorktown  was  set  apart  for  the  service 
of  God,  by  Messrs.  Wrangel  and  Borell,  of  the  Swe- 
dish Lutheran  church,  and  Messrs.  Gerok  and  John 
N.  Kurtz,  of  the  German  ministerium.  At  the  Synod 
of  1762,  held  at  Philadelphia,  ten  German  and  three 
Swedish  Lutheran  ministers  attended  with  their  lay 
delegates ;  Provost  Wrangel  opened  the  Synod  by  an 
address  in  the  German  language,  and  Pastor  Muhlen- 
berg was  elected  President  of  the  German  and  Swedish 
Lutheran  ministerium.  The  congregation  at  Winches- 
ter, in  Virginia,  applied  during  this  session  for  connex- 
ion with  the  Pennsylvania  Synod,  and  was  admitted. 
The  church  regulations,  which  about  this  time  were 
introduced  into  the  congregations  of  New  Providence, 
Philadelphia,  New  Germantown,  in  Jersey,  and  in 
other  places  some  of  which  are  extant  to  this  day — 
those  of  the  Philadelphia  congregation  were  printed  in 
the  German  language,  in  the  accounts  from  Halle,  to 
which  repeated  allusion  has  been  made  in  this  volume, 
and  which  we  would  cheerfully  translate,  did  we  not 
fear  to  enlarge  this  work  too  much, — we  say,  these  reg- 


88  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

illations  afford  us  another  proof  of  the  deep  felt  anxi- 
ety of  the  fathers  of  the  American  Lutheran  church, 
to  bring  order  into  the  affairs  of  the  different  con- 
gregations, by  the  introduction  of  mild,  but  thorough- 
going rules  for  their  government.  The  printed  regu- 
lations of  the  Philadelphia  German  Lutheran  church 
will  readily  convince  every  reader  of  them,  acquainted 
with  the  German  language,  of  the  sincerity  and  truly 
Christian  disposition  of  those  servants  of  Christ,  who 
endeavored  to  introduce  them  into  the  churches,  and 
no  less  of  their  deep  knowledge  of  man,  which  preven- 
ted them  from  asking  of  tlieir  fellow-worshippers,  more 
than  wisely  could  be  demanded,  under  existing  circum- 
stances;  and  yet  so  constructed,  that  a  truly  Christian 
mind  will,  by  a  careful  reading  of  these  church  rules, 
discover  but  very  few  omissions  of  any  importance  in 
regard  to  church  government.  But  our  fathers  in  the 
ministerial  office  not  only  manifested  a  noble  anxiety 
to  promote  good  order  within  the  pale  of  the  church, 
and  to  live  in  brotherly  harmony  with  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran ministerium  in  America,  but  they  also  loved 
and  esteemed  the  servants  of  Christ  in  other  Christian 
denominations.  Both  Swedish  and  German  ministers 
manifested  by  brotherly  visits  to  the  clergy  of  other 
confessions,  that  they  were  liberally  disposed,  and 
were  desirous  of  maintaining  a  Christian  friendship  for 
and  with  all,  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity  and 
truth.  This  course  of  conduct  failed  not  to  produce 
a  reciprocal  good  will  among  the  servants  of  our  Lord 
in  other  churches.  Brotherly  kindness  was,  on  all 
sides,  extended  to  our  preachers ;  they  received  the 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 


most  friendly  invitations  to  attend  the  conventions, 
conferences,  associations  and  Synods  of  Sister  chur- 
ches, which  civilities  they,  in  their  turn,  cheerfully  re- 
ciprocated. Pastor  Muhlenberg,  for  instance,  atten- 
ded, by  special  invitation,  a  convention  of  the  English 
Episcopal  church,  and  was' received  with  distinguished 
kindness.  On  another  occasion  the  celebrated  Pres- 
byterian minister ,  Tennant,  paid  Dr.  M.  a  visit,  con- 
cerning which  the  latter  expressed  himself,  in  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  as  follows:  "The  visit  of  Rev.  Mr.  Tennant 
I  considered  as  a  season  of  spiritual  refreshment.  An- 
other time  the  Brethren,  Muhlenberg,  J.  N.  Kurtz, 
Wrangel  and  Brizelius,  attended  the  solemnities  of  the 
commencement  of  Princeton  college,  by  special  invi- 
tation. In  1763,  three  ministers  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  Messrs.  Durkee,  Richard  Peters,  and  Ingliss, 
three  Presbyterian  clergymen,  Dr.  Tennant,  Dr.  Fin- 
lay,  President  of  Princeton  college,  and  the  Presbyte- 
rian minister  at  Newark,  in  Jersey,  and  Rev.  M.  Whit- 
fiel'd,  delighted  our  German  and  Swedish  brethren  with 
their  presence  and  attention  during  the  Synodical  ses- 
sions. Mr.  Whitfield  preached  on  that  occasion,  at 
the  express  request  of  the  Lutheran  ministerium,  and 
also  attended  the  examination  of  the  children  of  the 
Philadelphia  congregation  in  the  truths  of  the  Christian 
religion,  at  the  close  of  which  he  endeavored,  in  his 
own  happy  manner,  to  impress  the  mutual  duties  of 
parents  and  children,  on  the  hearts  of  all  present. — 
Rev.  Mr.  Eager  arrived  in  1762,  from  Germany,  and 
was  recommended  by  Drs.  Wrangel,  Muhlenberg,  and 
Gerok,  to  the  congregation  in  the  city  of  New  York. 


90  AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

In  October,  1764,  the  Lord  called  his  servant.  Pastor 
Handschuh,  after  a  labor  of  16^  years  in  the  German 
Philadelphia  congregation,  into  his  eternal  rest.  In 
consequence  of  his  departure  and  the  translocation  of 
other  ministers,  partly  to  newly  formed  congregations, 
Philadelphia  and  several  other  old  established  churches 
became  almost  destitute.  Assistance  could  only  be 
looked  for  from  Germany,  and  Dr.  Muhlenberg  lost 
no  time  in  representing  to  the  Theological  faculty  of 
Halle,  the  pressing  wants  of  the  American  Lutheran 
church.  In  May,  1765,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Voigt  and 
Krug,  and  in  Oct.,  Rev.  Christopher  Immanuel  Schulze 
arrived  in  Philadelphia,  from  Germany.  Pastor  Voigt 
received  a  call  to  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia, 
Pastor  Krug  to  Reading,  and  Pastor  Schulze  was  ap- 
pointed second  minister  in  the  Philadelphia  congrega- 
tion. The  numerical  strength  of  that  church  may  be 
gathered  from  the  circumstance,  that  after  the  adoption 
of  the  aforementioned  church  regulations,  more  than 
700  heads  of  families  signed  the  same.  Forty  congre- 
gations, situated  in  Pennsylvania,  Jersey,  New  York, 
Maryland  and  Virginia,  were  at  that  time  in  connec- 
tion with  Synod. 

The  external  increase  of  the  Philadelphia  congrega- 
tion made  it  necessary  to  think  .of  the  building  of  an- 
other edifice,  as  in  St.  Michael's  church  the  half  of  the 
members  found  no  longer  accommodations.  The  cor- 
ner stone  ofZion's  church  was  therefore  laid  with  great 
solemnity,  in  1766.  Among  the  documents  deposited 
in  the  same  is  one,  which  gives  an  account  of  the  ori- 
gin and  progress  of  the  Evangelical*  Lutheran  church 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  91 

in  Philadelphia.  The  closing  paragraphs  of  this  doc- 
ument richly  deserve  a  place  in  the  history  of  our 
church,  in  as  much  as  they  are  chiefly  addressed  to 
posterity.  "And  now,  dear  children  and  children's 
children,  we  commend  you  to  God  and  the  word  of  his 
grace,  who  is  mighty  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you 
an  inheritance  among  all,  who  are  sanctified.  We  con- 
fidently trust,  that  we  are  not  guilty  of  your  blood,  if 
you  neglect  your  salvation  in  the  wilderness  of  this 
world.  Small  has  been  our  beginning,  and  even  now 
our  prospect  is  by  no  means  flattering,  in  view  of  the 
great  undertaking  before  us.  But  the  whole  congrega- 
tion has  cheerfully  offered  its  gifts  with  the  utmost  libe- 
rality. Observe  therefore,  diligently  and  carefully,  your 
church  regulations,  that,  in  virtue  of  them,  you  may  al- 
ways be  provided  with  pastors  and  teachers,  who  take 
heed  to  themselves  and  the  flock,  over  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  shall  have  set  them  as  overseers,  that  they  may 
feed  the  church  of  God,  which  he  has  purchased  with 
his  own  blood ;  and  act  towards  these  your  teachers  so,, 
that  they  may  discharge  their  duties  with  joy  and  not 
with  grief,  for  that  is  unprofitable  to  you.  Take  heed  al- 
so through  the  grace  of  God  and  his  means  of  grace, 
that  you  may  become  and  abide  fruitful  branches  in 
Christ,  the  true  vine,  children  of  light,  members  of  his 
spiritual  body  and  living  stones  of  the  heavenly  Zion. 
Suffer  no  disharmony  or  party  spirit  to  arise  among  you, 
but  quench  its  first  appearance  with  Christian  love  and 
mildness.  Act  kindly  and  neighborly  towards  the  mem- 
bers of  our  sister  churches,  and  do  to  them,  as  you  wish 
that  they  should  do  to  you.  Hold  fast  what  you  have, 


\yZ  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

that  no  one  may  take  your  crown.  Let  that  mind  be  in 
you,  which  was  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  walk,  as  he  did 
walk.  And  if  in  following  after  him,  you  are  tempted 
by  trials  and  sufferings,  think  it  not  strange,  but  rejoice, 
when  you  suffer  with  Christ,  so  that  in  the  revelation  of 
his  glory  you  may  have  everlasting  joy.  Now  the  God 
of  peace,  that  brought  again  from  the  dead,  our  Lord 
Jesus,  that  great  Shepherd  of  the  Sheep,  through  the 
blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  make  you  perfect  in 
every  good  work,  to  do  his  will,  working  in  you,  that, 
which  is  pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to 
whom  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever. " 

About  this  time  Dr.  Wrangel  was  afflicted  by  a 
dangerous  illness,  so  that  his  friends  for  some  time 
despaired  of  his  recovery.  The  Lord,  however,  bles- 
sed the  means  employed  for  the  restoration  of  his 
health.  During  his  illness,  his  greatest  grief  was,  of 
not  having  done  enough  for  his  Lord  and  Master. — 
The  same  complaint  is  frequently  expressed  in  the  let- 
ters of  the  other  fathers  of  our  church.  Though  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  the  Lord  in  the  midst  of  difficul- 
ties and  trials,  of  which  we  can  scarcely  have  a  concep- 
tion in  our  day,  in  poverty  and  want,  in  heat  and  in 
cold,  still  they  often  lamented  their  weakness,  neglect, 
and  unfruitfulness.  It  may  be  truly  said  of  them,  that 
they  did  not  seek  themselves,  or  their  own  advantage, 
but  the  salvation  of  the  souls  entrusted  to  their  care. 
Though  unremitting  in  the  instruction  of  the  young, 
and  in  exhortations  to  their  flocks,  though  walking  be- 
fore their  congregation  in  love  and  Christian  humility, 
and  with  Apostolic  zeal  and  resignation  in  the  ways 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  93 

of  the  Lord,  yet  they  feared  to  have  been  faithless  ser- 
vants to  their  Redeemer,  in  the  discharge  of  their  pas- 
toral duties,  who,  from  love  to  man,  lived,  taught, 
suffered  and  died.  May  their  example  excite  us  to 
renewed  zeal,  when  our  hands  grow  weary  and  our 
hearts  faint  in  the  service  of  our  Lord. 

In  the  narrative  of  events  which  signalized  the  year 
1767,  our  brethren  in  the  faith  in  Nova  Scotia,  are 
once  more  brought  to  our  remembrance.  For  in  that 
year  they  gave  a  call  to  Pastor  Brizelius,  who  had  for 
some  time  ministered  to  the  congregation  in  New 
Germantown,  New  Jersey ;  the  elder  son  of  Dr.  Muh- 
lenberg,  who  had  now  finished  his  Theological  studies 
at  Halle,  and  was  returned  to  America,  took  charge 
of  the  congregations  in  Hunterdon.  In  1769,  June 
20th,  the  new  church  in  Philadelphia,  was  set  apart  for 
the  service  of  God.  Pastor  Helmuth,  who  had  lately 
arrived  from  Germany  with  Pastor  Schmidt,  preached 
his  first  sermon  on  this  solemn  occasion.  He  afterwards 
accepted  a  call  from  the  congregation  in  Lancaster.  In 
1770,  Pastor  Kuntze  came  from  Halle  to  America, 
and  accepted  the  situation  as  second  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Philadelphia,  after  Rev.  Immanuel  Schulze 
had  accepted  an  invitation  to  serve  some  congregations 
in  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania.  The  two  younger  sons 
of  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  who,  after  having  finished  their 
studies  in  Halle,  had  returned  to  America,  soon  found 
employment  as  ministers,  in  several  congregations  con- 
nected with  Synod.* 

*  About  the  year  1755,  Pastor  Eager,  having  charge  of  the 
church  in  Yorktown,  was  requested  by  the  few  Lutherans  in  the 
9 


94  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

The  situation  of  our  brethren  in  the  far  South,  may 
be  gathered  from  a  letter  of  Pastor  Bolzius,  written 
about  1759,  in  which  he  says :  "  In  our  corner  of  the 
earth,  we  have  hitherto  richly  enjoyed  the  protection  and 
blessing  of  our  heavenly  Father,  both  in  temporal  and 
spiritual  things.  Though  we  have  not  been  free  from 
trials  and  difficulties ,  still  they  have  been  light,  and  as 
we  trust,  have  been  subservient  to  our  welfare  and  fur- 
therance in  religion,  through  the  kind  direction  of  a  wise 
Providence.  We  acknowledge,  to  the  praise  of  God, 
that  piety  and  contentment  still  reign  among  us,  as  even 
strangers  are  willing  to  acknowledge:  With  my  dear 
Brethren  in  office  Messrs.  Lembke  and  Rabenhorst,  1 
stand  in  the  most  friendly  collegiate  connexion;  every 
week  we  meet  in  conference,  and  for  prayer,  by  which 
meetings  our  mutual  love  is  cemented,  through  the  bless- 
ing  of  God.  The  same  blessing  also  prevents  our  labor 
among  the  people  from  being  unfruitful.  Jlmong  our 
congregation,  are  many  men  and  women,  who  are  truly 
converted  to  God,  and  who  walk  in  the  truth,  and  are  an 
ornament  to  our  office,  and  humble  assistants  in  the  dis- 
charge of  our  duties.  Though  on  account  of  the  war 
and  tlie  repeated  failure  of  crops,  every  article  of  living 
is  high,  yet  our  heavenly  Father  gives  us  our  daily 

city  of  Baltimore,  to  visit  them  occasionally  ;  his  successor  was 
the  Rev.  Caspar  Kirchner ;  in  1762,  the  first  Lutheran  church 
was  built  in  the  city,  and  church  regulations  were  introduced. — 
Mr.  Kirchner  departed  in  the  faith  of  his  Lord,  1773.  Pastor 
Gerok  was  called  as  his  successor  ;  the  hew  church  orders,  which 
he  introduced,  were  signed  by  147  members,  and  a  new  church 
edifice  was  built,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  increasing  con- 
gregation. 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  95 

bread,  in  ihe  enjoyment  of  health  and  peace  among  our- 
selves. I/many,  who  in  the  first  seasons  of  trial  have 
left  us,  haaendured  a  little  while  longer ,  they  would  have 
experiences  the  truth  of  the  proverb:  <- JJfter  winter , 
Spring  do®  corned  "  Among  the  trials  and  difficulties 
alluded  to  n  this  extract  from  Pastor  Bolzius'  letter, 
he  and  his  congregation  reckon  the  dangers,  which 
threatened  he  young  colony  of  Georgia  during  the 
Spanish  wa :,  as  some  of  the  severest.  But  the  Lord 
protected  tie  people,  so  that  they  saw  no  enemy  at 
Ebenezer,  >ut  were  rather  frequently  instruments  in 
the  hand  c  God,  to  afford  a  place  of  refuge  to  exiles 
from  Sav?mah,  Frederica,  and  other  parts  of  the  coast. 
The  Journal  of  Pastor  Bolzius,  containing  the  account 
of  the  e^ery  day  occurrences  in  the  settlements  occa- 
sionally exhibits  to  the  reader,  traits  of  the  character, 
life,  w?k  and  conversation,  and  also  edifying  examples 
of  theiappy  departure  of  several  members,  as  a  satis- 
factor  evidence,  that  the  peace  of  God  and  the  bles- 
singjof  Christianity  in  general,  were  still  reigning  in 
that-ongregation. 

J  1752,  the  Rev.  Christian  Rabenhorst  had  arrived 
at  ^benezer,  with  a  colony  of  emigrants  from  Wurtem- 
bi'g,  who  had  applied  to  Senior  Urlsperger,  at  Augs- 
tirg,  to  procure  them  a  pious  clergyman,  as  their  pas- 
)r  during  the  voyage.     After  his  arrival  we  perceive, 
.n  the  letters  of  Pastor  Bolzius,  that  the  appointment 
of  a  third  minister  at  Ebenezer,  appeared  to  him  un- 
called for ;  but  he  discovered,  as  he  states  in  his  later 
letters  to  friends  in  Germany,  that  this  appointment 
came  from  the  Lord.     For  in  a  letter  to  Senior  Urls-* 


96  AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

perger,  dated  Feb.  9,  1753,  he  expresses^  lira  self  as 
follows:  "I  have  to  acknowledge,  with  sfiame  and 
humiliation,  that,  when  I  first  was  informedof  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  third  minister  for  Ebenezeij,  and  even 
afterwards,  when  I  saw  him,  I  believed  su<h  appoint- 
ment for  our  small  congregation,  to  be  supeiluous  ;  but 
since  we  have  become  better  acquainted  wth  him,  and 
through  the  rich  grace  of  the  holy  Spirit  felt,  that  he 
was  one  heart  and  one  soul  with  us  in  reltion,  office, 
and  brotherly  conduct,  and  when  after  m^last  return 
from  Charleston  I  discovered  the  decrease  \{  my  bod- 
ily strength,  I  was  humbly  rejoiced  at  the  ^odness  of 
God,  who  has,  in  addition  to  many  othe^  precious 
gifts,  sent  us,  ( without  our  wish  and  desire  )  \iis  faith- 
ful and  prudent  brother,  Timotheus.  What  gratifica- 
tion does  it  afford  me  and  my  dear  brotheiin-law, 
Lembke,  to  receive  the  assistance  and  to  be  suported 
by  this  cheerful,  willing,  and  laborious  man,  whom 
we  have  to  restrain,  lest  his  unremitting  activit  may 
prove  injurious  to  him,  before  he  is  acclimatized.  We 
all  have  fwork  enough  to  do,  and  do  all  with  please. 
Mr.  Rabenhorst  enjoys  the  good  will  of  the  people,  n  a 
high  degree."  Happy  congregation  !  blessed  with  BS- 
tors,  who  lived  and  labored  only  to  win  souls  for  Chrit! 
Happy,  ye  servants  of  God !  Ye  shall  enter  into  th 
joy  of  your  Lord!  For  twelve  years  this  trio,  this  clove, 
leaf,  labored  together,  in  building  up  the  kingdom  of 
God.  But  these  twelve  years  were,  for  the  most  part, 
years  of  great  distress  in  external  circumstances.  How- 
ever, they  wrere  rich  in  God,  and  his  Providence  was 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  97 

the  staff  on  which  they  leaned,  and  on  which  they  lea- 
ned not  in  vain. 

In  1765,  Nov.  19,  it  pleased  God  to'  remove  one 
of  these  servants  of  the  Lord,  into  his  eternal  rest. — • 
Mr.  Bolzius  had  for  the  last  three  years,  frequently 
complained  in  his  letters,  of  being  affected  by  fevers 
and  increasing  infirmities,  and  especially  by  an  alar- 
ming dry  cough,  which  no  medicine  could  remove. 
Lately  he  felt  considerable  pains  in  his  side  and  bow- 
els, and  his  feet  began  to  swell.  His  dear  Brethren, 
Lembke  and  Rabenhorst,  say  in  their  accounts,  that 
he  bore  the  greatest  pain  with  the  patience  of  a  lamb, 
resigned  to  the  will  of  his  reconciled  God.  In  the 
month  of  August  he  began  to  feel  somewhat  better 
than  he  had  felt  for  some  time,  so  that  he  resumed  his 
official  duties.  For  seven  successive  Sundays  he  prea- 
ched in  Jerusalem  church,  notwithstanding  the  offers 
and  entreaties  of  his  Brethren,  to  spare  himself.  He 
generally  replied:  "I  have  soon  to  appear  with  my 
hearers,  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  and  I  do 
not  wish  that  one  of  them  should  there  accuse  me  of 
having  been  the  cause  of  his  condemnation.  "  On  the 
15th  Sunday  after  Trinity,  he  preached,  for  the  last 
time.  His  subject  was  :  "  The  happiness  of  the  true 
disciple  of  Jesus"  He  placed  before  his  hearers  : — 
1.  The  distinction  between  the  true  and  false  Chris- 
tian. 2.  The  difference  between  an  imaginary  and 
true  faith. 

From  that  time,  the  swelling  in  his  fe£t  increased  so 
much  that  he  could  no  more  go  out.     During  a  visit 
of  his  colleague,  Pastor  Lembke,  he  expressed  the  hap- 
9* 


98  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

py  state  of  his  mind,  in  the  following  terms  :  "  I  can- 
not describe  how  happy  I  am  in  my  solitude,  whilst 
I  enjoy  the  presence  and  communion  with  my  Savior ! 
happy,  oh,  indescribably  happy."  In  general,  he  did 
not  speak  much,  having  brought  his  temporal  concerns 
in  order  some  time  before  his  illness,  so  that  no  cares 
disturbed  his  mind.  Meanwhile,  his  fever  increased, 
as  well  as  the  pain  in  his  body  and  the  swelling  of  his 
legs.  From  the  7th  to  the  19th  of  Nov.,  a  little  gruel 
was  all  the  refreshment  he  could  take.  On  the  14th, 
he  desired  to  enjoy  once  more,  on  earth,  communion 
with  his  Savior,  in  the  participation  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. Previous  to  the  administration  of  this  ordinance, 
he  observed  to  Mr.  Lembke :  "  I  acknowledge  our  pro- 
testant  religion  as  a  precious  treasure,  in  life  and  death! 
In  myself  I  discover  naught  but  sin,  but  I  know,  that 
God  has  granted  me  forgiveness,  for  Christ's  sake." 
During  the  solemnity  itself,  the  peace  of  his  soul  was 
clearly  depicted  in  his  countenance.  On  the  18th, 
early  in  the  morning,  Mr.  Lembke  was  called  to  him, 
the  family  believing  that  the  hour  of  his  departure  was 
at  hand.  Mr.  Lembke  addressed  him  in  the  words  of 
the  Savior :  "  Father,  I  will,  that  they,  whom  thou 
hast  given  me,  be  with  me,  where  I  am,  that  they  may  see 
my  glory,  which  thou  hast  given  me."  Mr.  Bolzius 
repeated  the  words:  "that  they  may  see  my  glory" 
and  added :  "Ah!  how  delightful  is  it  in  yonder  hea- 
ven !  how  delightful  to  be  with  Christ !  Ifseemed  as 
if  his  bodily  sufferings  were  very  great,  for  he  repeated, 
several  times :  "  This  is  a  day  of  trial !  "  In  the  even- 
ing, his  friends,  supposing  that  his  last  moments  were 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  $9 

approaching,  arranged  his  pillow,  that  he  might  rest 
the  better,  but  he  almost  immediately  recovered,  and 
said :  "  Not  yet,  I  have  still  to  bear  my  sufferings  for 
one  night  longer."  The  next  morning,  at  6  o'clock, 
the  Lord  delivered  his  servant  from  all  his  troubles, 
and  called  him  to  his  eternal  rest,  in  the  62d  year  of 
his  useful  life.  Only  two  of  his  four  children  survived 
him,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  son  was,  at  the  time 
of  his  father's  departure,  at  Halle,  in  Germany,  to  fin- 
ish his  studies  there.  We  remarked  before,  that  a  fort- 
night previous  to  his  death,  he  took  leave  of  his  Eu- 
ropean friends  in  England  and  Germany,  in  two  letters 
to  Senior  Urlsperger,  in  Augsburg,  and  to  Dr.  Zie- 
genhagen,  in  London.  A  few  extracts  from  these  let- 
ters, as  testimonials  of  the  full  preparation  of  his  mind 
for  the  great  change,  cannot  but  be  welcome  to  the 
reader.  In  that  to  Senior  Urlsperger,  he  says  :  "  I  am 
hastening  towards  my  home.  He  who  sees  his  wed- 
ding day,  is  not  concerned  about  trifles.  It  has  plea- 
sed my  dear  Redeemer,  to  visit  me  for  several  months, 
with  disease  and  infirmities,  which  most  probably  will 
terminate  in  death.  I  am  in  his  hand,  for  he  does  all 
things  well,  as  my  own  experience  has  taught  me,  du- 
ring my  whole  pilgrimage,  but  more  especially  during 
the  32  years  of  my  pastoral  office  among  my  dear 
Salzburgers.  Dearest  heavenly  Father!  accept  my 
humble  thanks  for  all  thy  love  and  faithfulness !  Ex- 
pecting that  my  dear  Redeemer  will  soon  deliver  me 
from  every  evil,  and  help  me  out  into  his  heavenly 
kingdom,  I  deem  it  my  duty,  though  with  a  feeble 
hand,  to  write  a  few  lines  to  you,  to  express  my  grat- 


100  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

itude  to  you  dear  Father,  for  all  the  spiritual  and 
temporal  acts  of  kindness,  manifested  towards  me,  the 
most  unworthy  of  men,  towards  my  family,  my  breth-  ., 
ren  in  office,  and  to  the  whole  congregation,  for  better 
than  32  years,  and  through  you  I  wish  to  express  my 
thanks,  once  more,  to  all  the  Christian  benefactors  of 
Ebenezer,  who  live  in  my  beloved  father-land." 

In  his  letter  to  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  he  expresses  him- 
self as  follows :  "  This  will  probably  be  my  last  letter, 
which  I  will  write  to  you,  with  feeble  hands  and  weak 
eyes.     I  am  so  reduced  by  illness,  that  I  can  scarcely 
walk  a  few  steps,  and  am  unable  to  discharge  any  of 
the  duties  of  my  office.     All  that  I  can  do,  is,  to  pre- 
pare myself  for  a  happy  exit  out  of  this  world,  by  the 
word  of  God  and  prayer,  through  the  assistance  of  the 
holy  Spirit.  And  God  be  praised,  I  can  and  may  ^ay : 
"  If  we  live,  we  live  unto  the  Lord,  if  we  die,  wfe  die 
unto  the  Lord,  whether  we  live,  therefore,  or  die,  ufe  are 
the  Lord's."     How  great  is  the  happiness,  to  possess 
this  knowledge.     Praised  and  blessed  be  God,  for  the 
unspeakable  gift  of  his  only  begotten  Son,  to  us  sin- 
ners,— to  me,  also,  the  chief  of  them, — with  whom  he 
has  given  us  all  we  now  have  and  enjoy  in  life  and  in 
death,  as  well  as  what  we  shall  for  ever  and  ever  en- 
joy in  the  house  of  our  Father,  in  the  sweetest  and 
most  blessed  communion  with  the  triune  God.     It  is 
a  faithful  saying,  I  shall  be  happy  for  ever ;  my  eyes 
shall  behold  the  source  of  all  joy,  I  know,  in  whom  I 
believe,  and  I  am  sure,  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown 
of  righteousness." 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.  101 

He  was  buried,  Nov.  20th,  in  the  grave-yard  near 
Jerusalem  church.  * 

Towards  the  close  of  the  7th  decennium  of  the  18th 
century.  Rev.  Mr.  Triebner  arrived  from  Germany, 
and  was  received  as  the  third  preacher  to  the  congre- 
gation at  Ebenezer.  Soon  after  his  arrival  the  new 
brick  church  was  built  on  the  spot,  where  the  old 
wooden  Jerusalem  church  had  stood,  and  received  the 
same  name. 

Father  Lembke  was  called  to  his  rest  previous  to  the 
commencement  of  the  American  revolution.  So  had, 
also,  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  departed  to  his  Lord,  about  the  same  time. 

We  are  sorry  to  say,  that  notwithstanding  many  ex- 
ertions made,  to  obtain  particulars  of  the  happy  de- 
parture of  these  servants  of  the  Lord,  all  have  proved 
unsuccessful.  There  is  no  doubt,  bat  the  account  of 
their  last  hours  would  have  proved  as  edifying  and  in- 
teresting as  the  closing  scenes  of  the  lives  of  Pastor 
Gronau  and  Bolzius.  Should  further  inquiries  be  more 
successful  than  those  were,  which  have  hitherto  been 
made,  to  obtain  the  desired  information,  it  shall  be 
given  in  an  appendix  to  this  volume. 

Rev.  Mr.  Zuebli,  who  had  for  some  time  been  pas- 
tor of  the  congregation  at  Orangeburg,  in  South  Caro- 
lina, after  he  had  left  Frederica,  on  St.  Simon's  island, 
during  the  troubles  of  the  Spanish  and  French  war,  re- 

*  Attending  the  meeting  of  the  South  Carolina  Synod,  in  the 
month  of  Nov.,  1841,  the  author  of  this  volume  visited  that  grave- 
yard ;  but  no  stone  marks  the  spot  where  the  earthly  remains  of 
this  servant  of  Jesus  rests. 


102          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

ceived,  about  this  time,  a  call  as  pastor  of  a  congre- 
in  Savannah,*  consisting  both  of  English  and  German 
members.  He  also  appears  to  have  visited  German 
settlements  on  Briars  creek,  in  Georgia,  between  Eb- 
enezer  and  Augusta ;  however,  no  accounts  are  in  ex- 
istence of  the  result  of  his  labors. 

The  German  settlers  in  the  district  of  Saxe-Gotha, 
on  the  Congaree  and  in  the  forks  of  Saluda  and  Broad 
rivers,  in  South  Carolina,  were  about  this  time  enjoy- 
ing the  services  of  a  Pastor ;  but  his  name  does  not 
appear  in  the  records  of  those  times,  probably  it  was 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cilley,  who  had  arrived  in  South  Caro- 
lina with  a  colony  of  German  emigrants  from  Maine, 
in  the  year  1773.  But  of  his  labors  and  success,  no 
accounts  can  be  found.  The  present  congregation  of 
St.  Matthews,  in  Orangeburg  District,  appears  to  have 
been  for  some  time,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Zuebli,  who,  as  stated  before,  had  moved  thence  to 
Savannah.  Complaints  are  not  unfrequently  made  in 
the  records  of  those  days,  of  a  spirit  of  indifference, 
and  of  a  worldly  disposition  becoming  more  and  more 
visible  among  the  Germans  of  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia,  and  that  many,  both  Lutherans  and  Refor- 
med, were  leaving  the  Pastors,  who  had  been  diligent 
in  the  instruction  of  young  and  old,  and  were  follow- 
ing men,  who  pretended  to  preach  to  them  without 
any  remuneration.  This  worldly  disposition  and  in- 
differentism,  was  greatly  increased  by  the  political 

*  This  information  is  contained  in  the  Halle  accounts  of  the 
settlements  of  the  Salzburg  emigrants,  atEbenezer,  in  a  letter  of 
Pastor  Rabenhorst,  to  a  friend  in  Germany. 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  103 

troubles  which  commenced  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
French  war,  in  the  year  1763.  But  not  only  did  a 
worldly  spirit  destroy  much  good  among  our  brethren 
in  the  Southern  regions  of  the  North  American  colo- 
nies, the  spirit  of  fanaticism  entered  also  into  the 
church.  It  was  about  this  time,  that  a  number  of  our 
people,  living  on  the  banks  of  Saluda  river,  in  South 
Carolina,  being  destitute  of  ministerial  instruction, 
agreed  to  assemble,  from  time  to  time,  for  singing, 
prayer,  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  and  mutual  edi- 
fication. This  was,  as  it  should  be ;  but  the  enemy 
soon  sowed  tares  among  the  wheat,  by  introducing 
spiritual  pride  among  the  small  flock.  One  man,  by 
the  name  of  Weaver,  personated  Christ,  another  the 
holy  Spirit ;  a  certain  woman,  the  wife  of  Weaver,  the 
virgin  Mary,  and  one  poor  fellow  was  doomed  to  rep- 
resent Satan.  The  curiosity  of  the  people  became 
highly  excited  by  the  strange  proceedings  on  Saluda 
river,  in  the  neighborhood  of  what  is  now  called 
Youngmer's  ferry.  Excess  followed  excess,  until  at 
length,  Weaver,  representing  either  Christ  or  God, 
ordered,  in  virtue  of  his  dignity,  that  Satan  should  be 
chained  in  a  subterranean  hole ;  and  finally,  that  he 
should  be  destroyed.  For  this  purpose  they  met,  pla- 
ced the  unfortunate  man  in  a  bed,  covered  him  with 
pillows,  on  which  some  seated  themselves,  while  oth- 
ers stamped  with  their  feet  on  the  bed,  until  the  life  of 
the  man  had  become  extinct.  The  corpse  was  then 
taken  out  of  the  bed,  and  thrown  into  a  burning  pile  of 
wood,  to  be  consumed  to  ashes.  The  perpetrators  of 
this  crime  were  taken  to  Charleston  and  tried.  Wea- 


104  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

ver  was  found  guilty,  and  suffered  the  penalty  of  the 
law  on  the  gallows.     His  wife  was  pardoned. 

We  cannot  close  this  chapter,  without  mentioning 
two  remarkable  circumstances,  recorded  in  a  letter 
from  Ebenezer.  The  first  is,  that  Mr.  Whitfield  con- 
tinued to  take  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
church  at  Ebenezer,  which  he  manifested  in  the  pro- 
curing of  a  pious  English  teacher  for  that  congregation, 
and  in  the  promise  of  gratuitously  receiving  two  young 
men  of  talents  and  piety,  into  his  orphan-house, 
near  Savannah,  to  prosecute  their  studies,  that  they 
might  become  useful  to  the  people  as  teachers.  The 
other  is,  that  the  Presbyterian  minister,  who  accompa- 
nied Mr.  Whitfield,  informed  the  ministers  at  Ebene- 
zer, that  Luther's  preface  and  explanation  of  the  Epis- 
tle of  Paul  to  the  Romans,  had  been  the  means  in  the 
hand  of  God,  to  produce  a  great  awakening  in  the  col- 
ony of  Virginia,  among  the  English  inhabitants,  so 
that  they  were  holding  meetings  on  the  Lord's  days, 
seeking  edification  and  growth  in  religion,  through  the 
writings  of  Luther,  and  were  desirous  of  connecting 
themselves  with  the  Lutheran  church.  By  this  occur- 
rence it  seemed,  that  the  declaration  of  the  Apostle 
Paul,  in  his  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  in  respect  to  Aa- 
ron, had  another  fulfilment,  and  was  applicable  in  re- 
gard to  Luther :  "  He  being  dead,  yet  speaketh" 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  history  of  the  American  Lutheran  church,  from 
the  Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  U.  $.,  to 
the  close  of  the  18th  century.  From  1776  to  1801. 

During  the  revolutionary  struggle  our  brethren  in 
Maine  endured  their  share  of  sufferings,  as  well  as 
many  other  congregations  in  every  other  portion  of 
the  union.  The  number  of  families  connected  with  the 
Waldoborough  church,  amounted  to  rising  of  ninety, 
being  divided  into  two  parts ;  the  German  Lutheran, 
and  the  German  Reformed.  No  fundamental  princi- 
ples form  the  distinction  between  both  parties ;  in  the 
Reformed  churches  the  Hidleberg  catechism  is  gene- 
rally used  for  the  instruction  of  the  young  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  religion,  while  in  the  Lutheran  church,  Lu- 
ther's smaller  catechism  is  employed  for  the  same 
purpose;  in  the  Reformed  churches  the  mode  of  ad- 
ministering the  Lord's  Supper  differs  in  some  respects, 
from  that  practised  in  the  Lutheran  churches  ;  and  in 
regard  to  church  government,  the  Reformed  brethren 
admit  two  ecclesiastical  bodies,  besides  the  local  con- 
sistory of  each  individual  church,  viz :  the  Classes  and 
the  Synods  ;  in  which  latter  bodies  a  number  of  Classes 
are  united,  which  receive  appeals  from  the  Classes. 
In  the  American  Lutheran  church,  Synods  only  are 
recognized  as  ecclesiastical  authority  in  regard  to  min- 
10 


106         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

isters  and  congregations,  in  as  far  as  departures  from 
the  constitution  are  concerned,  to  which  they  have 
either  subscribed,  or  the  authority  of  which  they  have 
by  other  acts  acknowledged.  The  local  Vestries  or 
church  councils  of  individual  congregations  have  the 
care  of  those  churches  by  whom  they  are  elected  for 
that  purpose.  As  the  Waldo  congregation,  composed 
of  members  of  both  denominations,  had  agreed  to  at- 
tend the  ministry  of  one  pastor,  it  was  expected,  and 
cheerfully  acceeded  to,  that  he  should  administer  the 
Lord's  Supper  to  each  portion  of  his  flock  in  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  parties  had  been  accustomed  to  re- 
ceive it.  The  pastor,  who  served  them  during  the 
revolutionary  war,  was  the  Rev.  John  M.  Schaeffer. — 
His  services  do  not  appear  to  have  been  accompanied 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  though  they  continued  for 
twenty  years.  In  1785  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Croner,  concerning  whom  the  records  state :  "  that  he 
was  an  evil  example  to  the  flock,  a  reproach  to  the  min- 
istry, and  a  great  injury  to  souls."  His  period  of 
preaching  in  the  Waldoborough  church  was  four  years. 
From  1789  to  1796,  the  church  remained  destitute  of 
the  services  of  a  pastor.  In  the  last  mentioned  year, 
the  Rev.  Augustus  Ferdinand  Ritz,  received  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  serve  this  people.  He  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  had  received  a  classical  education  in  his 
native  country,  studied  Theology  at  Helmstaedt  in  the 
Duchy  of  Brunswick,  emigrated  thence  to  Pennsylva- 
nia, united  himself  with  the  Lutheran*  Synod  of  that 
State,  and  became  the  Pastor  of  several  congregations 
in  the  interior  of  the  country.  The  people  of  Waldo- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  107 

borough  received  him  with  open  arms,  provided  him 
with  a  glebe  lot  of  one  hundred  acres,  and  $220  an- 
nual salary.  He  was  a  talented  man,  of  an  excellent 
character  and  deep  piety;  but  his  task  was  a  severe 
one,  for  an  almost  uncultivated  field  lay  before  him; 
still  he  labored  not  alone,  for  God  was  with  him. 
His  ministry  continued  beyond  the  commencement  of 
the  19th  century. 

Two  Lutheran  ministers  only  were  laboring  in  the 
extensive  regions  of  the  Western  part  of  the  State  of 
New  York  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary 
war;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sommers,  residing  in  the  village  of 
Schoharie,  who,  notwithstanding  his  age  and  loss  of 
sight,  continued  to  discharge  the  pastoral  duties  to 
that  as  well  as  the  Cobleskill  congregation;  and  the 
Rev.  John  F.  Rees,  Pastor  of  the  churches  of  Stone 
Arabia,  Little  Falls  and  Canajoharie. 

In  1788  Pastor  Sommer  retired  from  the  active  du- 
ties of  his  station,  in  consequence  of  his  advanced 
age  and  infirmities.  He  had  enjoyed  the  love  and 
esteem  of  the  members  of  his  charge,  during  the  long 
course  of  his  ministry;  and  we  ourselves  have  been 
acquainted  with  some  aged  persons  of  his  flock,  who 
still  spoke  with  high  regard  of  his  ministry,  and 
of  his  pious  walk  and  conversation;  443  individuals 
connected  themselves  with  the  church  during  the  30 
years  of  his  ministerial  labors  in  the  congregation  at 
Schoharie.  During  the  war  he  had  faithfully  shared 
with  his  people,  the  trials,  dangers  and  ravages,  occa- 
sioned by  attacks  from  hostile  Indians  and  British  foes. 

Great  were  the  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 


108  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

northern  and  western  portions  of  the  State  of  New 
York  during  that  interesting  period  of  time.  Our 
brethren  too  had  to  pass  through  trying  scenes,  espe- 
cially those  who  dwelt  on  or  near  the  banks  of  the  river 
Mohawk  and  at  Schoharie;  several  were  slain,  others 
were  led  into  captivity,  others  had  to  leave  their 
houses  and  farms,  and  on  their  return  found  their 
dwellings  burnt  and  the  fruit  of  their  industry  destroy- 
ed, when  peace  permitted  them  to  revisit  their  homes. 
Rev.  Anton  Theodore  Braun  took  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation in  the  year  1791.  His  stay  was  not  of  long 
duration;  in  1794  he  left  Schoharie,  having  accepted 
a  call  to  the  churches  in  and  near  Albany.  In  1795 
the  Rev.  Frederick  Henry  Quitman  accepted  the  call 
of  the  Schoharie  congregation.  This  gentleman  was 
born  in  Germany  in  the  Duchy  of  Cleves  near  the  con- 
fines of  Holland.  After  the  completion  of  his  Theo- 
logical studies  at  Halle,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
Lutheran  congregation  in  the  Island  of  Curacoa,  in 
the  West  Indies,  belonging  to  Holland;  during  the 
revolutionary  movements  in  the  mother  country, 
whereby  its  colonies  were  likewise  affected,  Rev.  Mr. 
Quitman  came  to  the  United  States,  and  accepted  the 
call  from  Schoharie.  During  his  ministry  the  Con- 
gregation built  a  new  house  of  worship;  a  spacious 
building,  in  the  centre  of  Schoharie  village,  wherein 
the  congregation  is  still  worshipping.  In  1798  Rev. 
Mr.  Quitman  removed  from  Schoharie,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Braun  resumed  the  charge  of  the  Schoharie  church, 
as  substitute  or  delegate  of  Rev.  Dr.  Kuntze,  who  was 
considered  as  pastor  elect;  this  state  of  affairs  how- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          109 

ever,  not  being  profitable  to  the  church,  Mr.  Braun 
therefore  dissolved  his  connexion  with  the  Schoharie 
congregation  in  1801. 

The  ministers  in  the  State  of  New  York  finding  it 
inconvenient  on  account  of  distance,  to  attend  the 
annual  meetings  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod,  resolved 
in  a  convention  or  Synodic  committee  who  met  at  Al- 
bany on  the  Hudson  river,  to  form  a  second  Synod  of 
the  American  Lutheran  church.  The  title  they  assum- 
ed was:  "The  Synod  and  Ministerium  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  church  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  ad- 
jacent  parts  "  Dr.  Kuntze  was  elected  the  first  Pres- 
ident of  the  newly  created  body;  its  regulations  and 
constitution  were  in  almost  every  respect  those  of  the 
Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  except,  that  the  German  lan- 
guage was  not  constituted  either  the  language  of  Sy- 
nod, or  that,  wherein  divine  service  was  to  be  cele- 
brated, except  where  the  circumstances  of  a  congre- 
gation would  require  it.  Eighteen  congregations 
placed  themselves  under  the  care  of  the  new  Synod, 
which  consisted  of  six  ordained  ministers. 

It  has  been  remarked  in  one  of  the  preceding  chap- 
ters, that  the  colonial  government  of  New  York  had 
deprived  the  German  Lutherans  in  that  colony  of  the 
land,  which  Queen  Anne  of  England  had  granted 
them  for  the  support  of  their  schools  and  churches. 
Remonstrances  had  been  made  without  effect.  But 
though  the  German  settlers  in  New  York  as  a  body 
could  not  obtain  possession  of  what  was  lawfully  their 
own,  the  Rev.  John  Christopher  Hartwig  was  more 
successful  in  obtaining,  as  an  individual.  He  had 
10* 


110  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

been,  as  noticed  before,  chaplain  to  a  German  regi- 
ment in  the  British  province  during  the  Spanish,  or 
as  it  is  also  called,  the  first  French  war.  For  those 
services  he  obtained  a  tract  of  wild  land,  situated  in 
what  is  now  called,  the  county  of  Otsego,  from  the 
head  of  Otsego  lake  south  nearly  to  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Upper  Milford,  and  from  the  banks  of  the  Sus- 
quehannah  east  to  the  village  of  West  Hart  wick  in  a 
westerly  direction.  This  gentleman  being  without 
family,  devoted  the  entire  tract,  with  the  exception  of 
a  few  legacies,  to  the  support  of  schools,  and  especial- 
ly to  the  establishment  of  a  Theological  and  Mission- 
ary institution,  for  the  education  of  ministers  in  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  for  preparing  con  verted  Indians  as 
Missionaries  among  their  own  tribes.  But  by  the  mis- 
management of  some  of  the  agents,  whom  Rev.  Mr. 
Hartwickhad  engaged  during  his  life  time,  to  prepare 
the  way  for  the  establishment  of  his  intended  Semi- 
nary, as  also  of  some  executors  of  his  will  after  his 
departure,  the  greater  portion  of  his  patent  was  alien- 
ated and  misapplied,  before  the  benevolent  design  of 
Mr.  Hartwick  could  be  accomplished.  His  departure 
took  place  in  1796.  It  being  accompanied  by  some 
remarkable  circumstances,  manifesting  the  power  of 
imagination  in  an  eminent  degree;  a  brief  narrative  of 
these  occurrences,  cannot  therefore  but  appear  inter- 
esting to  the  reader. 

Forty  years  previous  to  his  death,  the  impression 
from  a  dream  on  his  birth  day,  that  he  would  live  ex- 
actly another  forty  years,  had  become  so  strong  in  his 
mind,  as  to  feel  persuaded,  that  the  dream  would  be 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  HI 

fulfilled,  and  the  prolongation  of  his  life  to  the  close 
of  his  eightieth  year,  was  calculated  to  dispel  any 
doubts  on  the  subject  if  he  ever  had  entertained 
any.  The  day  previous  to  the  completion  of  his 
eightieth  year,  he  came  to  the  house  of  the  Hon.  John 
R.  Livingston*,  residing  in  Duchess  county  near  the 
river  Hudson,  in  whose  family  he  was  intimate,  and 
announced  to  his  friends,  that  he  came  to  die  at  their 
house.  He  appeared  to  be  in  the  full  possession  of 
health,  entered  freely  into  religious  conversation  with 
the  family,  participated  as  freely  in  the  hospitality  ex- 
tended to  him,  and  in  the  evening  conducted  the  wor- 
ship of  the  family.  The  next  morning  he  left  his  bed 
in  health,  breakfasted  and  conversed  with  the  family — 
till  towards  the  approach  of  the  hour,  on  which  his 
imagination  had  fixed,  as  the  moment  of  his  depar- 
ture. This  was  11  o'clock,  A.  M.  About  5  or  6 
minutes  before  that  time,  he  requested  leave  to  retire 
to  rest.  Mr.  Livingston  followed  him  unobserved, 
and  noticed,  that  he  wras  undressing.  Just  as  the 
clock  struck,  Mr.  Hartwick  was  in  the  act  of  unbuck- 
ling his  stock,  and  in  that  moment  fell  back  on  his 
bed  and  expired. 

The  executors  of  his  will  assisted  several  promising 
young  men  in  the  prosecution  of  their  studies  under 
the  auspices  of  Dr.  Kuntze  and  other  clergymen,  but 
the  establishment  of  the  Seminary  itself  was  deferred 
to  a  later  period  of  time. 

During  the  war  the  congregation  in  the  city  of  New 
York  experienced  all  its  calamities.  That  portion  of 
the  congregation  which  had  attended  worship  in  Grace 


112  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

church,  had  during  the  war  either  removed  from  the 
city,  or  attached  themselves  to  other  denominations; 
Grace  church  was  therefore  sold  and  the  funds  were 
united  with  those  of  the  German  church  in  William, 
corner  of  Frankfort  street.  The  ministers  who  served 
the  congregation  in  the  city  of  New  York,  during  the 
war,  were,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wey- 
gandt,  Rev.  Mr.  Hartwig,  and  soon  after  the  war  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Kuntze.  It  has  been  observed  in  another 
part  of  this  volume,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Housil,  after 
he  had  served  a  congregation  in  Nova  Scotia,  had  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  serve  the  church  at  Frederick,  Mary- 
land. No  mention  is  afterwards  made  of  him  in  the 
ancient  records,  but  in  the  will  of  Mr.  Hartwig  it  is 
stated,  that  he  was  also  for  some  time  minister  of  the 
church  in  the  city  of  New  York,  but  that  he  with  a 
part  of  the  congregation  left  the  city,  to  return  to  Hal- 
ifax in  Nova  Scotia  during  the  occupancy  of  New 
York  by  the  British.  We  mention  this  circumstance, 
to  show,  that  as  late  as  the  close  of  the  revolutionary 
war,  Lutherans  had  maintained  their  ground  in  that 
British  province,  and  that  it  is  therefore  not  unlikely, 
that  our  brethren  in  Canada  might  form  a  mutually 
advantageous  union  with  the  churches  in  No_va  Scotia; 
at  least  the  inquiry,  whether  they  are  still  in  existence, 
might  prove  pleasing  and  satisfactory. 

Our  churches  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  suffered 
greatly  during  the  war,  especially  those  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  State,  Hackinsack,  Ramapaugh,  &c. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  who  had  ministered  to  the 
churches  in  Hunterdon  and  Morris  counties,  left  them 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  113 

during  the  period  of  agitation,  to  devote,  his  talents  to 
the  service  of  his  country;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  William 
Graf  from  Hackinsack  accepted  the  call  tendered  him 
by  the  congregations,  and  continued  to  break  the  bread 
of  life  to  this  people  with  great  faithfulness,  enjoying 
the  esteem  and  love  of  the  church,  not  only  while  his 
state  of  health  permitted  him  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  his  office,  but  when  age  and  bodily  infirmities  for- 
bade their  continuance,  the  congregations  cheerfully 
supported  him  until  the  day  of  his  death.  .During  his 
ministry  a  new  place  of  worship  was  erected  near 
Spruce  run  in  Hunterdon  county,  and  a  congregation 
organized.  Another  church  situated  in  Burlington 
county  in  the  township  of  Cohensey  was  attended  to 
by  the  ministers  residing  in  Philadelphia. 

The  congregations  in  Pennsylvania  found  the  time  of 
the  revolutionary  war,  a  season,  which  tried  Men's 
souls. — Many  of  the  old  German  settlers,  who  had  on 
their  arrival  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  British 
crown,  conscientiously  entertained  the  opinion,  that 
they  ought  not  to  act  contrary  to  their  solemn  prom- 
ise, while  the  majority  of  their  brethren  in  the  faith 
adopted  without  hesitation  the  new  order  of  things, 
and  cheerfully  defended  the  cause  of  liberty  and  inde- 
pendence with  their  blood  and  treasure.  This  dif- 
ference of  sentiment  produced  not  only  divisions  in 
families,  but  in  many  cases  destroyed  flourishing  con- 
gregations. Another  great  evil  arose  from  men  who 
during  these  troublesome  times  came  into  the  country, 
as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  but  were  in  fact  wolves  in 
sheep's  clothing,  leading  profligate  lives,  destroying 


114          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

the  flocks,  who  in  the  absence  and  want  of  better 
men,  had  entrusted  themselves  to  their  care.  During 
the  war  Dr.  Wrangel  had  been  recalled  to  Sweden; 
Pastor  Henry  M.  Muhlenberg  and  most  of  the  other 
pillars  of  the  church  had  been  called  into  the  joy  of 
their  Lord,  and  the  prospect  of  having  their  places 
filled  with  men  of  equally  devoted  hearts,  was  distant. 
When  therefore  the  star  of  peace  revisited  our  land, 
it  found  the  Lutheran  churches  in  Pennsylvania  in  a 
precarious  situation.  Gradually,  however  a  better 
state  of  things  was  brought  about  by  the  superintend- 
ing care  of  the  head  of  his  church.  The  old  congre- 
gations began  to  revive,  and  new  churches  were  form- 
ed and  organized  through  the  instrumentality  of  faith- 
ful shepherds.  Of  the  elder  brethren,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
William  and  Nicolas  Kurtz,  Gerock,  Goering,  Loch- 
man,  Helmuth,  Schmidt  and  Graf  were  still  engaged 
in  serving  the  Lord  within  those  portions  of  his  vine- 
yard, in  which  his  providence  had  placed  them. — 
Among  those,  who  towards  the  close  of  the  19th  cen- 
tury were  laboring  with  youthful  vigor  in  the  Ameri- 
can Lutheran  church  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  States 
south  of  it,  we  have  to  name,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Schaef- 
fer,  Daniel  Kurtz,  John  G.  Schmucker,  Endress,  Nuss- 
man,  Arndt  and  Storck.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Schaeffer  la- 
bored in  Germantown  and  Frankfurt  near  Philadelphia, 
Rev.  Daniel  Kurtz  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  as  succes- 
sorof  Pastor  Gerock  in  1787.  Rev.  John  G.  Schmucker 
was  stationed  in  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  after  Pastor 
Goering  had  left  that  congregation  to  take  charge  of 
the  church  in  Yorktown.  The  Rev.  Nicholas  Kurtz, 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  115 

who  had  been  for  some  time  the  pastor  of  this  latter 
congregation,  left  it  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  age 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  with  his  son,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Kurtz  in  rest  and  waiting  for  the  call 
of  his  Lord,  which  he  received  in  1794.  Rev.  Mr. 
Endress  was  laboring  in  Easton;  Nussman,  Arndt, 
Bernhardt  and  Stork  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 
The  blessing  of  the  Lord  accompanied  the  labors  of 
all  these  brethren,  and  there  are  yet  many  living  wit- 
nesses in  the  respective  congregations  of  their  former 
charges  of  the  truth,  that  wheresoever  the  word  of  the 
cross  is  faithfully  proclaimed,  it  manifests  itself  in  the 
hearts  of  men  as  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  in 
all  who  truly  believe  in  Jesus  Christ.  We  are  con- 
strained however  to  remark,  that  the  anxiety  of  most 
of  our  ancient  fathers  in  the  church,  to  keep  up  the 
German  language  in  preaching,  proved  greatly  detri- 
mental to  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom 
among  the  posterity  of  the  founders  of  our  churches. 
This  was  especially  the  case  in  the  cities  of  Phila- 
delphia and  New  York.  Every  friend  of  our  cause, 
will  with  regret  look  upon  the  departure  of  hundreds, 
yea  thousands  of  the  rising  generation  from  the  church 
of  their  fathers,  in  consequence  of  this  obstinate  adher- 
ence to  the  language  of  the  Father-land  in  the  house 
of  God.  The  excuse,  that  the  charters  of  the  churches 
prohibited  the  use  of  the  English  language,  is  insuf- 
ficient to  cover  the  error.  Means  might  have  been 
employed  for  the  religious  instruction  of  the  young  in 
the  language  of  our  country,  and  to  promote  the  erec- 
tion of  houses  of  worship,  in  which  the  gospel  might 


116  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

be  preached  in  a  language,  understood  by  all.  But 
the  secession  of  many  from  the  church  was  not  the 
only  evil,  attending  this  obstinacy.  The  attachment 
of  a  large  number  of  our  brethren,  to  the  church  of 
their  fathers  was  so  strong,  that  many  endeavors  were 
made  to  effect  a  change.  By  this  means  a  party  spirit 
was  excited,  which  ran  high  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
and  scenes  occurred,  especially  at  the  elections  of 
church  officers,  which  every  lover  of  religion  found 
cause  to  deplore. 

In  1793  the  city  of  Philadelphia  was  visited  for  the 
first  time  with  the  yellow  fever,  and  hundreds  of  our 
Lutheran  friends  in  that  city  became  its  victims.  But 
while  most  of  the  ministers  of  other  denominations 
left  their  charges,  to  escape  from  the  devouring  pesti- 
lence, Dr.  Helmuth  and  Pastor  Schmidt  kept  their 
posts,  and  without  fear  of  death  visited  the  sick  and  the 
dying,  to  impart  to  them  the  consolations  of  religion. 
This  was  also  the  case,  when  in  the  year  1800  the 
same  pestilence  revisited  Philadelphia  and  extended 
its  ravages  to  the  city  of  Baltimore.  In  this  latter 
city  our  beloved  brother  Daniel  Kurtz  attended  to  the 
duties  of  his  office  in  the  midst  of  scenes  of  indescri- 
bable distress.  The  Lord  has  seen  the  faithfulness  of 
his  servants,  and  we  may  rest  assured,  that  those  two 
of  our  brethren  who  have  passed  the  gates  of  eternity, 
have  received  the  reward  of  their  labors  from  their 
master,  and  the  other  awaits  in  patience  the  call  of  his 
Lord  to  enter  into  his  everlasting  joy.  In  North  Car- 
olina but  few  ministers  were  as  yet  laboring  among 
the  German  population  of  that  State.  The  Lutheran 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  117 

congregations  are  chiefly  in  the  Northern  and  Western 
counties.  Pastor  Nussman  had  been  sent  from 
Halle,  soon  after  the  peace  which  secured  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  of  America;  and  besides 
him.  Rev.  Mr.  Arndt  and  Bernhardt,  with  some  few 
others,  whose  names,  however,  appear  not  to  be  re- 
corded, were  laboring  in  N.  Carolina.  In  1798,  Pas- 
tor Charles  Augustus  Gottlieb  Storch  was  sent  from 
Helmstadt,  in  the  Duchy  of  Brunswick,  in  Germany, 
at  the  request  of  brethren  in  North  Carolina,  to  culti- 
vate that  portion  of  the  Lord's  vineyard.  Our  brother, 
who  had  just  finished  his  Theological  studies,  at  the 
above  named  city,  was  willing  to  accept  the  call,  at 
least  for  a  number  of  years.  The  friends  of  the  Amer- 
ican Lutheran  church  in  Germany  had  directed  oui 
brother  to  the  county  of  Guilford,  as  the  place  of  his 
activity.  His  arrival  in  the  month  of  June,  1788,  was 
forthwith  communicated  to  the  German  brethren  resi- 
ding in  that  county.  His  reception,  however,  was  not 
such  as  he  had  anticipated ;  so  that  he  was  almost  re- 
solved upon  returning  to  his  native  country.  But  the 
kind  providence  of  God  prevented  the  execution  of 
this  design.  His  brother  and  friend,  Nussman,  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  accept  a  call  from  the  Organ  church 
in  Rowan  county,  and  to  endeavor  the  organization 
of  a  church  in  Salisbury,  the  seat  of  justice  for  the 
same  county.  The  Lord  blessed  the  labors  of  his  ser- 
vant, so  that  he  soon  saw  a  flourishing  congregation 
rising  in  that  town.  In  process  of  time  he  was  also 
enabled,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  to  organize  a 
number  of  other  churches  in  Rowan,  Lincoln,  and  Ca- 
ll 


118          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

barrus  counties.  Among  them  we  may  name  Union 
and  Savage's  churches.  In  1787  he  attended  the  Syn- 
od of  Pennsylvania,  to  strengthen  himself  to  renewed 
exertions  in  the  service  of  his  divine  master.  After 
his  return  our  brother  not  only  continued  to  give  his 
services  to  the  congregations  gathered  in  the  Districts 
of  his  immediate  residence,  but  also  paid  several  visits 
to  the  churches  in  South  Carolina,  most  of  which  were 
destitute  of  ministers.  In  Charleston,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Daser  was  settled  as  Pastor  of  a  congregation,  consis- 
ting of  Germans,  originally  belonging  to  three  persua- 
sions, the  Lutheran,  Reformed,  and  Catholic.  The 
only  bond  of  union  among  this  people,  was  the  Ger- 
man language,  and  as  each  one  of  the  parties  found 
itself  too  weak  to  obtain  the  services  of  a  minister  of 
their  own  denomination,  they  agreed  to  call  a  minis- 
ter, willing  to  preach  to  them  in  the  German  language, 
and  to  administer  the  ordinances  to  the  individual 
members,  agreeably  to  the  usage  of  their  respective 
churches.  In  the  interior  of  that  State  there  were  con- 
gregations and  houses  of  worship  in  Orangeburg  Dis- 
trict, Amelia  township,  at  Sandy  Run,  Zion's  church 
near  Saluda  River,  St.  Peter's,  about  four  miles  from 
Lexington  court  house, — which,  however,  was  then 
not  yet  the  seat  of  justice,  the  District  being  still  at- 
tached to  Orangeburg, — Piney  woods'  church,  St.  Ja- 
cob's church,  St.  John's  church  in  the  North-western 
part  of  what  is  now  called  Lexington  District,  besides 
some  others  in  Edgefield  and  Laurens  Districts. — 
Nov.  13th,  1787,  seven  ministers,  serving  these  con- 
gregations, met  at  Zion's  church,  on  12  mile  creek, 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  H9 

near  Saluda  River,  and  formed  themselves  into  a  Sy- 
nodical  body.  Some  of  these  brethren  were  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  but  having  no  classes  of 
their  denomination  near  enough,  agreed  to  form  one 
evangelical  body  with  their  Lutheran  brethren.  The 
names  of  the  ministers  were  as  follows :  Frederick  Da- 
ser,  Christian  Theis,  J.  C.  Bamberger,  M.  Carl  Bin- 
ninger,  Frederick  Augustus  Wallburg,  Frederick  Jo- 
seph Wallern,  Carl  Frederick  Froelich.  The  principal 
business  transacted  on  this  occasion,  was :  Firstly, — 
After  a  regular  organization  of  the  meeting,  and  calling 
Rev.  Mr.  Baser  to  the  chair,  as  Senior  of  the  minis- 
terium,  to  propose,  consider,  and  adopt  a  constitution. 
Secondly, — It  was  resolved  to  petition  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  for  an  act  of  incorporation.  The  minis- 
terium  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  same  place,  Jan. 
8th,  1788.  At  this  meeting  the  form  of  a  petition  to 
the  Legislature  was  taken  up,  considered  and  appro- 
ved, various  petitions  from  congregations  were  dispo- 
sed of,  and  Mr.  Bamberger  was  ordained.  The  Leg- 
islature incorporated,  during  its  session  in  the  month 
of  Feb.,  1788,  the  following  15  congregations,  as  one 
ecclesiastical  body :  Friederician*  church,  on  Catell's 
creek  ;  German  Calvinistic  church  of  St.  John's,  in  the 
Fork ;  German  Lutheran  church  of  St.  Mathews,  Ame- 
lia Parish,  Orangeburg  District;  German  Lutheran 
church  of  Salem,  near  Sandy  Run ;  German  Lutheran 
Zion's  church,  on  12  mile  creek,  near  Saluda  river ; 
German  Lutheran  St.  Peter's  church,  on  18  mile 

*  Friederician  church.    "We  suppose  this  term  stands  for  Frie- 
dens  kirche,  in  the  act  of  incorporation. 


120  AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

creek ;  German  Lutheran  Bethel  church  on  Highhill 
creek ;  German  Lutheran  St.  Martin's  church  ;  German 
Lutheran  Bethlehem  church  on  Faust's  ford ;  German 
Protestant  church  of  Bethany  on  Green  creek ;  German 
Protestant  church  of  Appii  Forum,  on  Cedar  creek ; — 
German  Protestant  Charlotte  church  on  Slippery  creek; 
German  Lutheran  church  of  St.  George  on  Hard-la- 
bor creek;  German  Lutheran  St.  Jacob's  church  on 
Wateree  creek;  German  Protestant  church  of  St. 
George,  near  Indian-field  swamp. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  of  the  same  year,  the  minis- 
terium  and  delegates  from  the  respective  congrega- 
tions, convened  at  Salem  church,  near  Sandy  Run. — 
Synod  being  constituted,  the  act  of  incorporation  was 
read;  a  system  of  discipline,  in  20  articles,  was  pro- 
posed by  President  Daser,  and  after  discussion,  adop- 
ted, signed  and  sealed  by  the  members  present,  both 
ministers  and  lay  delegates.  The  first  Article  declares, 
that  the  incorporated  churches  shall  form  one  Corpus 
Evangelicum,  by  which  all  things  pertaining  to  church 
and  religion  shall  be  arranged  and  directed-,  and  the 
free  gospel  to  be  preached  within  its  bounds.  The 
second  Article  does  not  deprive  members  of  this  union 
of  their  respective  denominations,  and  provides,  that 
each  part  shall  enjoy  its  own  rights  and  privileges. — 
The  fifth  Article  provides,  that  each  member  of  the 
union  is  bound  to  appear,  when  cited,  before  the  Ec- 
clesiastical body,  composing  the  Directory.  Each 
congregation  is  to  elect  its  own  Pastor,  by  and  with  the 
consent  of  the  Directory.  Elders  and  Wardens,  are 
to  be  appointed  annually  in  each  congregation,  and  the 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  121 

articles  of  union  are  to  be  kept  and  subscribed  by  the 
individuals  of  each  church.  The  records,  as  far  as  they 
have  come  to  light,  contain  the  proceedings  of  annual, 
and  sometimes  semi-annual  meetings  of  Synod,  until 
the  year  1794.     Whether  the  meetings  were  continued 
after  that  time,  is  uncertain,  but  likely,  in  as  much  as 
records  of  a  later  date  have  been  found,  but  written  so 
illegibly,  that  it  was  impossible  with  any  degree  of 
certainty  to  decipher  their  contents.     We  have  been 
rather  minute  in  describing  these  proceedings,  with 
the  view  of  exhibiting  to  the  church  another  example, 
as  evidence,  that  our  forefathers  in  the  Southern  as  well 
as  in   the  Northern    States,  have    always  considered 
church  constitutions  and  church  disciplines  necessary 
to  the  very  existence  of  an  ecclesiastical  body,  as  we 
are  convinced  of  the  necessity,  that  laws  and  legislative 
authorities  are  necessary  to  the  body  politic ;  and  also, 
that  the  regulations  formed  by  both  ministers  and  lay- 
men, for  the  government  of  the    church  in  by-gone 
days,  were  far  more  binding  and  close,  than  any  dis- 
cipline of  modern  times,  against  which  so  many  voices 
have  been  raised,  as  being  tyrannical,  and  composed 
with  a  view  of  depriving  the  people  of  their  liberties. 
At  Ebenezer,  in  Georgia,  the  war,  and  its  detrimen- 
tal consequences  to  the  cause  of  religion, — the  religion 
of  peace, — were  felt  more  than  in  any  other  part  of  our 
church.     The  people  were  in  general  attached  to  the 
principles  of  our  revolution.     In  the  very  commence- 
ment of  the  troubles,  which  finally  led  to  the  declara- 
tion of  independence,  they  took  an  active  part  in  favor 
of  liberty.  They  reasoned  thus  with  those  who  appear* 
11* 


122         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

ed  to  incline  to   the  cause  of  Great  Britain:  "We 
have  experienced  the  evils  of  tyranny  in  our  native 
country ;  for  the  sake  of  liberty  we  have  left  home, 
lands,  houses,  estates,   and  have  taken  refuge  in  the 
wilds  of  Georgia ;  shall  we  now  again  submit  to  bon- 
dage ?     No,  we  will  not."     Upon  this  principle  they 
acted  throughout,  and  for  freedom's  sake  were  once 
more  driven  from  their  homes,  during  the  prevalence 
of  British  arms.     Mr.  Triebner,  one  of  their  ministers, 
a  man,  dissimilar  in  every  respect  to  his  worthy  prede- 
cessors, and  to  his  fellow-laborer,  Mr.  Ravenhorst, 
had  embraced  the  other  side  of  the  political  question ; 
and  went  so  far  in  his  zeal  for  toryism,  as  to  lead  the 
enemy  to  Ebenezer,  to  aid  in  the   destruction  of  the 
settlements,  and  in  driving  the  inhabitants  into  the  in- 
hospitable wilderness.     The  beautiful  house  of  God, 
built  near  the  Savannah  river,  was  turned  into  a  stable 
for  the  horses  of  the  British  soldiers,  and  sometimes 
served  as  a  Lazaretto,  for  the  sick  and  the  wounded. 
When  the  victories  of  American  arms  permitted  the 
poor  exiles  to  return  to  their  beloved  Ebenezer,  they 
found  themselves  under  the   necessity   of  beginning 
anew,  and  long  and  arduous  were  their   labors.     It 
appears,  that  from  that  time  they  relinquished  the  idea 
of  building  up  the  village,  which  had  been  destroyed, 
and  of  which  now  nothing  remained,  except  a  few  of 
the  better  built  houses,  which  had  served  as  quarters 
to  the  British  officers.     The  members  of  the  church 
began  to  build  permanent  residences  on   their  farms 
and  plantations,  and  in  this  manner  were   scattered 
over  a  distance  of  from  2  to  10  miles  from  the  former 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          123 

town  of  Ebenezer.  No  account  is  given  of  the  time 
when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ravenhorst  departed  to  his  Lord ; 
for  no  monument  or  tomb-stone  tells  the  pilgrim  the 
spot  where  his  body  rests,  and  when  he  was  called  off 
by  his  Lord.  It  seems  that  the  congregation  was  for 
some  time  destitute  of  ministerial  services  until  the 
Rev.  John  Ernst  Bergman  arrived  from  Germany. — 
This  appears  to  have  taken  place  soon  after  the  con- 
clusion of  the  peace,  by  which  the  Independence  of 
America  was  secured.  Most  probably  he  came  in 
company  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Nussman,  whose  field  of  la- 
bor was  marked  out  in  N.  Carolina.  The  external  situ- 
ation or  the  temporalities  of  the  congregation  were  in 
a  comparatively  flourishing  condition.  The  friends  of 
the  Salzburg  emigrants  in  Germany,  had  collected 
funds,  not  only  for  the  building  of  the  two  houses  of 
worship,  Jerusalem  and  Zion's  churches,  but  also  suf- 
ficient for  the  maintenance  of  their  minister.  The  Rev. 
John  E.  Bergman  served  the  church  at  Ebenezer  36 
years.  He  continued  to  preach  in  the  German  lan- 
guage, which  proved  here  as  detrimental  to  the  cause 
of  our  church,  as  in  other  places.  Many  of  the  young 
people,  who  understood  but  little  of  that  language, 
were  compelled  to  unite  themselves  with  other  church- 
es ;  and  towards  the  close  of  the  18th  century,  but  a 
remnant  of  the  large  congregation  was  left,  a  congre- 
gation which,  fifty  years  before,  had  needed  the  ser- 
vices of  three  ministers  of  the  gospel  at  the  same  time. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  history  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  America  from 
the  commencement  of  the  19th  century  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  General  Synod,  From  1801 — 1821. 

The  occurrences  related  in  the  preceding  chapter, 
give  the  friends  of  the  church  much  to  deplore,  and 
also  much  to  hope  for,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
19th  century.  Among  the  causes  of  grief  we  consider 
the  indifference  to  vital  religion,  prevailing  in  many 
portions  of  our  church  as  the  principal.  Inquiring  into 
its  causes,  we  discover  the  corruption  of  the  human 
heart  at  the  bottom  of  all  others,  a  heart,  which,  in- 
stead of  seeking  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  its 
righteousness,  and  of  believing,  that  then  all  other 
things  shall  be  added  unto  us,  seeks  most  selfishly  first 
the  things  of  this  wrorld,  wealth,  honor,  fame,  and  the 
pleasures  of  life,  considering  those,  that  make  for  our 
eternal  peace,  objects  of  secondary  consideration. 
As  a  subordinate  cause,  or  as  one  springing  from  the 
former,  we  may  mention  the  peculiar  situation  of  the 
German  emigrants.  They  chiefly  consisted  of  the 
poorer  classes  of  people.  In  their  native  country,  the 
oppression  of  the  wealthy  and  powerful  on  the  one 
hand,  and  an  overstocked  population  on  the  other, 
had  suffered  them  to  reap  no  reward  of  their  industry 
and  economy.  Arriving  in  this  country,  and  at  once 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          125 

comprehending  the  advantages,  which  industry  and 
economy  held  out  to  them,  they  would  naturally  lend 
all  the  energies  of  mind  and  body  to  the  acquirement 
of  what  they  supposed  would  place  them  on  an  equal 
footing  with  the  wealthiest,  and  would  afford  them 
that  enjoyment,  which  they,  erroneously  enough,  im- 
agined to  have  been  in  the  possession  of  the  rich,  whom 
they  had  envied.  Success  having  crowned  their  ef- 
forts, in  which  they  had  persevered  to  the  neglect  of 
the  education  of  their  children,  these,  with  the  exam- 
ple of  their  parents  before  their  eyes,  and  disabled  by 
ignorance  from  judging  for  themselves,  of  what  is  truly 
beneficial,  were  treading  in  the  steps  of  their  fathers, 
especially  when  perceiving,  that  increasing  wealth  had 
also  increased  their  importance  in  society,  and  misap- 
prehending this  kind  of  popularity  for  happiness,  be- 
came more  eager  in  the  pursuit  of  that  phantom,  than 
their  parents  had  been,  and  so  were  led  from  the  in- 
quiry after  the  welfare  of  their  immortal  souls,  to  a 
vain  pursuit  after  Mammon. 

The  obstinate  adherence  of  many  of  our  elder  min- 
isters to  the  exclusive  use  of  the  German  language  in 
the  service  of  the  church,  presents  us  with  a  hinder- 
ance  to  its  growth,  which  could  not  fail  deeply  to  af- 
fect the  heart  of  every  well-wisher  of  our  Zion.  The 
instruction  of  the  young  in  the  elements  of  religion  be- 
came thereby  necessarily  imperfect ;  they  understood 
little  or  nothing  of  the  public  services  in  the  Sanctu- 
ary ;  in  consequence  of  which  the  love  to  the  church 
of  their  fathers  waxed  cold  in  many;  and  finding 
more  instruction  and  edification  in  the  houses  of  wor- 


126          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

ship,  pertaining  to  those  denominations  of  Christians, 
who  taught  and  preached  in  the  language  of  our  coun- 
try, than  in  their  own,  thousands  left  our  church  and 
connected  themselves  with  English  churches,  while 
others  became  negligent  attendants  on  the  word  of 
God  in  their  own  denomination.  Another  great  evil 
to  the  church  arose  from  men,  who,  pretending  to  be 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  dishonored  their  profession  by 
an  inconsistent  walk  and  conversation.  They  ren- 
dered the  ministerial  office  contemptible  with  tho'se, 
who  became  acquainted  with  them,  and  who,  instead 
of  distinguishing  between  the  truly  Christian  Pastor 
and  the  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing,  charged  religion  it- 
self with  being  useless  and  even  injurious,  and  so  be- 
came victims  of  infidelity. 

All  these  circumstances  deeply  affected  the  hearts 
of  the  friends  of  religion  and  well-wishers  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  would  have  been  sufficient  to  drive 
them  to  despair,  had  not  some  hope  upheld  and 
strengthened  their  drooping  spirits.  One  of  these 
hopes  rested  on  the  willingness  of  talented  and  pious 
men,  born  in  America,  to  devote  themselves  to  the 
service  of  the  church,  and  to  employ  the  language  of 
the  country  in  the  instruction  of  the  young,  as  well  as 
in  the  service  of  the  sanctuary,  whenever  necessary. 
A  short  time  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the 
19th  century,  we  see  a  Daniel  Kurtz,  a  Goering,  an 
Ernst,  a  Baetis;  and  many  others,  from  the  children  of 
our  country,  devoting  themselves  to  the  service  of  the 
Sanctuary  ;  and  the  commencement  ol  the  19th  centu- 
ry itself,  increased  the  hope,  which  the  American 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          127 

church  began  to  build  upon  the  talents  and  the  piety 
of  her  native  sons.  In  the  State  of  New  York  we  saw 
the  brethren,  Philip  and  Fre  derick  Mayer,  after  having 
enjoyed  the  instruction  of  the  pious  and  learned  Dr. 
Kuntze,  enter  the  service  of  the  church ;  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, D.  Endress,  John  C.  Baker,  John  P.  Hecht,  J. 
Miller,  D.  Ulrich,  pupils  of  Dr.  Helmuth,  were  filling 
the  places  of  departed  fathers  of  the  church.  In  Ma- 
ryland, Benjamin  Kurtz,  grand-son  of  Rev.  J.  N. 
Kurtz,  devoted  himself  to  the  service  of  the  Lord,  un- 
der the  instruction  of  Dr.  Lochman.  In  the  far  South, 
Paul  Henkel,  Philip  Henkel,  Jacob  and  Daniel  Sherer, 
Michael  Rauch,  D.  Moser,  Daniel  and  Godfrey  Dre- 
her,  were  turning  their  attention  to  the  study  of  the 
Scriptures,  with  the  view  of  becoming  the  instructors  of 
others.  All  these  brethren  entered  the  church  previ- 
ous to  the  establishment  of  any  of  our  Theological 
Seminaries.  The  appearance  of  a  spirit  of  inquiry  and 
of  religious  feeling,  as  well  as  an  increasing  willing- 
ness of  supporting  Ihe  gospel,  manifesting  itself  in  ma- 
ny portions  of  the  church,  brightened  the  hope  of  bet- 
ter days,  in  the  heart  of  every  well-wisher  to  our  Zion. 
With  many  fears,  therefore,  yet  not  without  some 
well-founded  hope,  the  church  entered  into  the  19th 
century,  and  we  trust  that  the  succeeding  narrative  of 
occurrences,  and  of  the  progress  of  religion  among  us, 
during  the  advance  into  this  century  unto  its  fifth  de- 
cenium,  will  cause  us  to  lessen  our  fears  and  to 
strengthen  our  hope  of  the  churches'  final  success  over 
every  spiritual  foe.  Let  us  then  in  the  first  place  visit 


128  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

our  dear  brethren  in  the  extreme  North-East  portion 
of  our  land. 

Here  the  Rev.  Augustus  F.  Ritz  was  still  the  pious 
pastor  of  the  congregation  in  Waldoborough.  Though 
distant  from  any  Synodical  body,  he  kept  up  his  in- 
tercourse with  the  church,  through  the  medium  of  his 
intimate  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shaeffer  senior,  Pastor 
at  Germantown,  and  afterwards  one  of  the  ministers  of 
the  German  Lutheran  church  in  Philadelphia.  Rev. 
Mr.  Ritz  died  suddenly  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1811.  The  writer,  in  the  Quarterly  Register,  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  the  account  of  the  Waldoborough 
church,  speaks,  respecting  his  character,  as  follows : 
"By  all,  who  knew  Mr.  Ritz,  Americans  as  well  as 
Germans,  he  was  highly  respected.  A  reputation,  such 
as  he  left,  is  like  an  array  of  gems,  which  never  fade. 
His  widow — an  ornament  to  the  church — is  now  an 
aged  mother  in  Israel,  adorned  with  graces. 

The  Rev.  John  William  Stai*man,  still  living,  be- 
came the  successor  of  Mr.  Ritz.  Mr.  Starman  was 
born  at  Lennep,  in  the  Duchy  of  Berg,  in  Germany,  in 
1773.  His  father  was,  at  the  time  of  our  brother's 
birth,  the  Lutheran  minister  of  that  town,  and  at  the 
same  time,  Superintendant  over  the  adjoining  diocese. 
Our  brother  received  his  first  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  town,  and  subsequently  partly  in  his  fa- 
ther's house,  and  partly  under  the  instruction  of  the 
Rev.  Frederick  William  Geissenhainer ,  minister  of  the 
German  Lutheran  congregation  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  a  countryman,  and  particular  friend  of  our  bro- 
ther Starman.  Having  received  the  call  to  Waldobo- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.         129 

rough  he  connected  himself  with  the  Synod  of  New 
York,  as  the  nearest  Lutheran  ecclesiastical  body,  and 
entered,  1811,  in  reliance  on  the  divine  aid,  upon  the 
discharge  of  his  official  duties  as  pastor,  in  the  Wal- 
doborough  congregation,  in  which  he  is  still  laboring, 
with  the  blessing  of  God.— July,  1846. 

Rev.  Mr.  Anthony  Braun  having  relinquished  his 
connexion  with  the  Schoharie  church,  it  remained  va- 
cant until  1805,  when  the  Rev.  Augustus  Wackerhagen 
was  called  by  the  united  congregations  of  Schoharie 
and  Cobleskill.  This  learned  gentleman  is  a  native 
of  the  Electorate  of  Hanover,  in  Germany.  He  had 
pursued  his  Theological  studies  at  the  celebrated  uni- 
versity of  Goettingen,  and  had  come  to  this  country  as 
the  private  instructor  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Bohn,  a 
wealthy  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  On  the  15th  of 
December,  1805,  he  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
official  duties  as  Pastor,  by  the  delivery  of  an  intro- 
ductory discourse  in  the  church  at  Schoharie.  He 
continued  his  ministry  in  these  congregations  for  the 
space  of  ten  years,  under  the  blessing  of  the  Lord. — 
It  appears  from  the  records,  that  eighty  new  members 
were  added  to  the  church,  while  he  was  pastor  of 
Schoharie.  In  1815  the  Rev.  gentleman  accepted  a 
call  from  the  Lutheran  churches  of  Germantown  and 
Livingston,  Columbia  county,  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  In  1816  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Molther  took 
charge  of  the  Schoharie  and  Cobleskill  congregations. 
In  1818,  difficulties  having  occurred  between  the  con- 
gregations and  Mr.  Molther,  he  was,  upon  an  appeal 
from  the  congregation  to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Sy- 
12 


130         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

nod  of  the  State  of  New  York,  removed  from  his  pas- 
toral station  by  a  decision  of  that  body.  In  the  month 
of  January,  1819,  the  Rev.  George  A.  Lintner,  while 
yet  a  licensed  candidate,  was  called  to  the  Pastoral 
charge  of  the  two  united  congregations.  This  gentle- 
man is  a  native  of  the  county  of  Montgomery,  State  of 
New  York ;  had  pursued  collegiate  studies  and  gradu- 
ated at  Union  College,  Schenectady ;  and  had  atten- 
ded a  course  of  Theological  studies  under  the  direction 
of  a  clergyman  in  connexion  with  the  Synod  of  New 
York,  who  was  then  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Palatine,  Minden,  Stone-Arabia  and  Johnstown. — 
On  the  16th  of  June  of  the  same  year,  he  was  ordai- 
ned by  a  special  meeting  of  the  ministerium  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  in  the  presence  of  the  congrega- 
tion, over  which  he  was  called  to  excercise  the  Pasto- 
ral functions.  The  services  of  this  brother  have  been 
signally  blessed.  The  congregations  have  not  only 
increased  numerically,  but  also  spiritually.  He  is  still 
living,  and  successfully  engaged  in  the  discharge  of 
his  official  duties.  The  congregation  of  Middleburg 
in  the  county  of  Schoharie,  has  been  established  by  his 
labors. 

The  church  of  Minden,  Montgomery  county,  was 
until  1816  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wieting, 
a  native  of  Witstock  in  the  Markgravate  of  Branden- 
burg. After  his  death,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dommeyer,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  had  pursued  Theological  stu- 
dies at  Goettingen,  and  had  taken  charge  of  Palatine, 
Stone-Arabia,  and  Johnstown  congregations  in  1811, 
was  elected  minister  of  Minden.  The  people  of  Ca- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  131 

najoharie  called  in  1818,  the  Rev.  George  B.  Miller 
as  their  pastor.  Mr.  Miller  had  received  his  earlier 
education  in  the  Gymnasium  at  Nazareth,  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  united  himself  with  the  Synod  of  New  York, 
and  continued  his  pastoral  labors  at  Canajoharie  for 
nine  years.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Merkel,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, formerly  a  merchant  in  New  York,  had  devo- 
ted himself  during  his  later  years,  to  the  study  of  The- 
ology, under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Dr.  Kuntze,  and 
having  received  license  from  the  Synod  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, had  labored  as  missionary  of  that  Synod  in  the 
counties  of  Cayuga  and  Seneca,  in  the  western  part  of 
New  York.  In  1815  he  was  ordained  by  the  Synod 
of  New  York,  and  soon  after  took  charge  of  the  chur- 
ches of  Guilderland  and  Bern  in  Albany  county.  The 
Rev.  Anthony  Braun,  after  departing  from  Schoharie 
in  1801,  for  a  short  time  discharged  official  duties  in 
the  congregation  at  Albany,  and  afterwards  ministered 
to  the  congregations  of  Brunswick,  Sandlake  and 
Schaticoke,  situated  in  Rensselaer  county  near  the 
Hudson  River,  where  he  remained  to  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1811.  He  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
came  from  Canada  into  the  United  States.  As  no  of- 
ficial records  of  his  life  have  come  to  hand,  we  can 
merely  state,  that  he  was  considered  by  those  who 
knew  him,  a  learned  and  pious  minister,  wishing  well 
to  the  cause  of  Christ.  The  Rev.  John  Bachman,  from 
Lunenburg  in  the  State  of  New  York,  a  graduate  of 
Union  college,  was  the  successor  of  Rev.  Mr.  Braun, 
from  whom  he  had  also  received  instruction  in  Theol- 
ogy. Brother  Bachman  was  ordained  during  the 


132          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

meeting  of  the  ministerium  at  Schoharie  in  1811. — 
The  congregation  at  Albany  gave  a  call  in  1806  to  the 
Rev.  Frederick  Meyer,  who  had  graduated  in  Colum- 
bia college,  and  studied  Theology  under  the  direction 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kuntze.  Rev.  Frederick  Meyer  de- 
parted towards  the  close  of  the  year  1843,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Pohlman.  Dr.  Kuntze, 
who  had  been  instrumental  in  the  education  of  several 
of  our  ministers,  was  also  the  spiritual  father  of  the 
Rev.  Philip  Mayer,  a  graduate  of  Columbia  college. 
This  gentleman  found  the  first  place  of  his  clerical  ac- 
tivity at  Athens,  Ulster  county,  State  of  New  York. — 
But  in  1807  Providence  assigned  him  a  more  extensive 
field  of  labor  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1807,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  C.  Kuntze,  pastor  of 
the  German  Lutheran  church  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
was  called  from  labor  to  his  rest.  He  was  a  native  of 
Saxony,  had  received  his  classical  education  at  the 
Halle  orphan-house,  and  studied  Theology  at  the  uni- 
versity of  Halle.  For  several,  years  afterwards  he  was 
one  of  the  principal  teachers  in  the  orphan-house  and 
the  Paedagogium.  The  corporation  of  St.  Michael 
and  Zion's  churches  called  him  from  his  native  land, 
as  one  of  their  pastors.  He  received  ordination,  pre- 
vious to  his  departure  from  Halle.  In  1771  he  entered 
upon  the  discharge  of  his  pastoral  duties  in  Philadel- 
phia ;  his  connexion  with  that  church  lasted  fourteen 
years.  He  and  Dr.  Lochman  in  Harrisburg,  were 
among  the  first  of  our  pastors  from  the  Father-land, 
who  perceived  the  necessity  of  introducing  the  English 
language  for  the  instruction  of  the  young,  as  well  as 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.         133 

in  the  service  of  the  church.  He  met,  however,  with 
great,  and  we  may  say,  unaccountable  opposition  from 
his  fellow-laborers,  Dr.  Helmuth  and  Dr.  Schmidt,  as 
also  from  a  large  portion  of  the  congregation.  How 
changed  would  have  been  the  condition  of  our  church, 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  fact  in  Pennsylvania 
and  other  middle  States,  had  his  advice  been  followed, 
and  had  the  church  listened  to  his  prudent  councils. 
Dr.  Morris,  the  first  editor  of  the  Lutheran  Observer, 
expresses  himself  in  the  obituary  notice  of  Dr.  Kuntze, 
as  follows,  on  this  subject:  "  Where  are  the  thousand 
respectable  families,  who  abandoned  our  communion, 
because  their  children  did  not  understand  German  ?  — 
Go  into  any  considerable  town  or  city,  and  you  will  see 
them  maintain  a  conspicuous  standing  in  almost  every 
denomination  of  Christians ,  but  our  own  !  Ml  this  Dr. 
Kuntze^s  foresight  anticipated,  but  the  men  of  his  day 
belonged  to  another  generation,  and  could  not  see,  what 
was  plain  as  day  to  his  sagacious  mind."  For  the  sake 
of  peace  he  left  Philadelphia,  after  having  served  that 
congregation  for  fourteen  years,  and  accepted  the  call 
as  minister  of  the  German  Lutheran  church  in  New 
York.  Under  his  pastoral  care  the  church  soon  revived. 
He  composed  a  hymn-book,  consisting  in  a  great  mea- 
sure of  German  hymns,  translated  into  English  verse, 
and  generally  in  the  metre  of  the  original,  so  that  a 
congregation,  accustomed  to  the  beautiful  German 
tunes,  could  sing  the  praises  of  God  and  our  Redee- 
mer in  union  with  their  offspring,  without  any  other 
alteration,  except  the  language,  wrhich  was  now  intel- 
ligible to  all.  He  composed  a  liturgy  and  a  catechism 
12* 


134  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

in  English,  taking  the  same  precaution,  which  he  had 
observed  respecting  the  hymn-book.  His  acquaintance 
with  oriental  literature  procured  him  the  chair  of  that 
department  in  Columbia  college.  The  executor  of 
Mr.  Hartwig's  will,  the  Honorable  Jeremiah  Van 
Ransselaer,  appointed  him  to  the  professorship  of  The- 
ology in  the  Hartwick  institution,  agreeable  to  the  will 
of  the  testator.  The  formation  of  the  New  York  Sy- 
nod as  his  work,  has  been  noticed  in  the  preceding 
chapter.  His  principal  object  in  taking  this  important 
step  was,  to  promote  the  introduction  of  the  English 
language  into  the  service  of  the  church,  a  step,  to 
which  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  had  hitherto  been  al- 
ways opposed;  but  so  convinced  was  Dr.  Kuntze  of 
its  necessity,  that  one  of  the  last  acts  of  his  life  was, 
the  transmission  of  these  his  views  to  the  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  then  were  violently  agitated. 
From  the  reminiscences  of  Dr.  Kuntze  in  an  article 
of  the  Lutheran  Observer,  we  extract  the  following 
remarks  respecting  the  Doctor's  religious  sentiments 
and  his  official  standing :  "  Blessed  with  a  pious  moth- 
er, Dr.  Kuntze  was  from  early  youth  embued  with  de- 
votional feelings  ;  and  fervency  and  integrity  marked 
the  religion  which  he  practiced  and  taught.  Scrupu- 
lously conscientious,  he  was  long  unwilling  to  abandon 
the  plan  of  pastoral  duty  he  had  formed  in  Germany, 
and  in  consequence  of  this,  underwent  some  consider- 
able sufferings,  which  others  were  careful  to  avoid. — 
Artless  and  open,  he  listened  too  readily  to  the  trou- 
blesome newsmongers,  the  retailers  of  every  thing  said 
and  done  among  those,  who  forced  themselves  upon  his 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          135 

attention,  thereby  embittering  many  an  hour  to  himself, 
without  profit  to  others  ;  but  it  was  the  infirmity  of  an 
honest  heart,  anxious  to  do  good.  Much  of  his  time 
wras  given  to  the  valuable  public  charities,  of  which  he 
was  a  director.  No  man  in  his  station  was  ever  more 
prompt,  to  assist  the  student,  or  to  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  the  gospel.  He  saw  reason,  as  almost  all  do, 
who  search  for  light,  to  change  some  of  his  opinions 
in  the  progress  of  his  inquiries,  and  dissented  in  a  few 
important  points  from  the  representations  generally 
made  of  them,  but  the  farther  his  investigations  were 
carried,  the  more  firmly  was  he  established  in  the 
faith  of  the  gospel,  and  the  divine  authority  of  the  sa- 
cred Scriptures.  As  a  preacher,  though  his  voice  was 
feeble,  he  was  distinguished  by  eloquence  as  well  as 
by  fidelity,  and  the  didactic  character  of  his  discour- 
ses. Most  affectionate  in  his  disposition,  he  was  hap- 
py in  the  circle  of  his  amiable  family,  and  supported 
by  the  tenderest  assiduities,  he  sank" — as  before  ob- 
served— "  in  the  summer  of  1807,  under  a  painful  dis- 
ease of  some  months  continuance,  full  of  humble  trust 
and  hope  in  his  God  and  Saviour,  after  he  had  served 
the  congregation  in  New  York  for  24  years." 

His  successor  in  office  was  the  Rev.  Frederick  W. 
Geissenhainer,  who  had,  previous  to  his  acceptance  of 
the  call  to  New  York,  been  engaged  in  the  service  of 
his  master  in  several  congregations  in  the  interior  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  frequent  representations  of  Dr. 
Kuntze,  on  every  suitable  occasion,  of  the  necessity  of 
introducing  the  English  language  into  the  church  ser- 
vice, had  prepared  a  considerable  number  of  his  own 


136          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

congregation  for  that  measure  ;  others,  however,  were 
violent  in  their  opposition  to  any  change.  Those  who 
were  favorable  to  English  service,  formed  themselves 
into  a  separate  congregation,  built  a  church,  and  cal- 
led a  Mr.  Striebek,  a  promising  young  man,  who  had 
studied  Theology  with  the  Doctor,  as  Pastor  of  Zion's 
church,  after  having  obtained  license  from  the  minis- 
terium.  The  prospects  of  the  new  church  appeared 
to  brighten,  but  unexpectedly  their  minister  connected 
himself  with  the  Episcopal  church.  A  call  was  then 
tendered  to  and  accepted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Williston,  of  the 
Methodist  connexion,  on  condition  of  uniting  with  the 
Lutheran  minister ium  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
he  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  of- 
fice in  that  congregation  for  several  years.  During 
that  time  he  was  commissioned  by  the  rmnisterium  to 
revise  the  English  Liturgy  and  hymn-book,  then  par- 
tially in  use,  and  so  we  obtained  a  second  edition  of 
these  works,  designed  for  the  use  of  the  church.  In 
1810,  Mr.  Williston  and  a  major  part  of  his  congrega- 
tion left  the  Lutheran  communion,  and  joined  the 
Episcopal  church,  it  was  said,  in  hopes  of  a  release 
from  the  debts  contracted  m  the  erection  of  their  house 
of  worship. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Geissenhainer  continued  to  officiate 
as  pastor  of  Christ  church,  in  William  street  until  1812, 
when  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania.  On  this  occasion 
the  desire  for  preaching  in  the  English  language  again 
manifested  itself  in  the  congregation.  The  vestry  re- 
solved to  make  the  attempt  in  Christ  church  ;  but  it 
failed  in  consequence  of  the  obstinacy  of  some,  who 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.  137 

preferred  going  to  great  lengths,  rather  than  allow  the 
preaching  of  the  word  of  God  in  their  house  of  wor- 
ship in  any  other  but  the  German  language.  A  sec- 
ond attempt^  however,  succeeded,  and  saon  after,  the 
Rev.  Christian  F.  Schaeffer,  a  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Schaef- 
fer  of  Philadelphia,  who  had  for  some  time  officiated 
at  Harrisburg,  received  and  accepted  the  call  as  pastor 
of  Christ  church,  with  the  express  understanding,  that 
service  should  be  conducted  alternately  in  both  lan- 
guages. Under  this  arrangement  the  English  part  of 
the  congregation  increased  so  considerably,  that  a  new 
house  of  worship  was  greatly  desired.  A  noble  struc- 
ture was  erected  in  Walker  street,  and  dedicated  to 
the  service  of  God  as  an  English  Lutheran  church  un- 
der the  name  of  St.  Matthew's  church.  Rev.  Chris- 
tian F.  SchaefFer  became  its  pastor,  and  the  German 
congregation  re-called  Dr.  Geissenhainer  to  Christ 
church. 

In  the  year  1814,  Dr.  Knauf,  one  of  the  executors 
of  the  Honorable  Jeremiah  Van  Ransselear,  who  had 
been  on£of  the  executors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hartwig's  will, 
applied  to  the  officers  of  the  Synod  of  New  York,  to 
devise  a  plan,  by  which  the  benevolent  intentions  of 
Mr.  Hartwig  might  be  accomplished,  in  as  far  as  the 
remaining  resources  of  the  estate  would  permit.  The 
testator  had  ordered,  that  his  institution  should  be 
erected  on  his  land  in  Otsego  county.  Proposals  were 
laid  before  the  citizens  on  the  East  and  West  side  of 
Hartwick  township,  promising,  that  the  institution 
should  be  built,  wherever  the  largest  sum  should  be 
subscribed  in  aid  of  the  erection  of  the  buildings. — 


138          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

This  was  done  by  the  citizens  of  the  Eastern  part, 
whereupon  Dr.  Knauf  ordered,  in  the  spring  of  1815, 
a  two-story  brick  building,  45  feet  long  and  36  feet 
wide,  to  be  erected  on  the  road  leading  from  Coopers- 
town  to  Milford,  in  the  beautiful  and  fertile  valley  of 
Hartwick.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hazelius,  who  had  been 
the  successor  of  Rev.  William  Graf,  as  minister  of  the 
congregations  in  Hunterdon  and  Morris  counties,  re- 
ceived and  accepted  the  call  from  the  vice-executor 
of  Mr.  Hartwig's  will,  as  Professor  of  ^Theology  and 
teacher  of  the  classical  school,  agreeably  to  the  will  of 
the  testator.  At  the  meeting  of  Synod  the  call  was  con- 
firmed and  twelve  Directors  were  chosen,  of  whom 
eight  were  Lntheran  ministers  and  laymen,  and  four, 
inhabitants  of  Hartwick  patent,  with  power  to  nomi- 
nate their  ^successors.  The  names  of  the  first  Direc- 
tors were :  The  Rev.  Dr.  Quitman,  Rev.  Dr.  Wack- 
erhagen,  Rev.  Frederick  Mayer,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Moeller; 
the  Honorable  William  C.  Bonk,  of  Schoharie,  C. 
Bonesteel,  Esq.,  of  Duchess  county,  Mr.  Fisher,  of 
New  York  city,  and  /.  Simmons,  Esq.,  of  Brunswick, 
Rensselaer  county.  The  Directors  on  the  patent  were  : 
Rev.  Daniel  Nash,  Episcopal  minister  at  Cooperstown, 
Nathan  Davison,Esq.,Mr.  J.  Loomis,a.ndE.  Crafts, 
Esq.  The  Academical  school  was  opened,  Dec.  5, 
1815,  and  previous  to  the  close  of  the  year  the  num- 
ber of  classical  scholars  in  the  institution  was  forty- 
five.  The  first  student  of  divinity  was  Henry  N.  Pohl- 
man,  of  Albany. 

In  New  Jersey  the  Rev.  William  Graf  departed  this 
life,  in  1808,  after  a  pilgrimage  of  66  years.     During 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          139 

the  four  last  years  of  his  life,  age  and  infirmities  pre- 
vented him  from  attending  to  any  official  duties.  Mr. 
Graf  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Leiningen  in  the 
South-western  part  of  Germany ;  he  pursued  and  fin- 
ished his  Theological  education  at  Giessen  in  Hesse- 
Darmstadt.  After  his  arrival  in  America  he  was  in- 
ducted by  Dr.  Muhlenberg  as  pastor  of  Hakinsack  and 
Ramapaugh  in  Bergen  county.  During  the  revolu- 
tionary war  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  united  congre- 
gations in  Hunterdon  and  Morris  counties.  He  was 
a  learned  and  pious  minister  of  the  gospel,  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  and  a  kind  and  in- 
dulgent parent.  Soon  after  his  removal  to  New  Ger- 
mantown,  he  lost  his  companion ;  during  the  latter 
years  of  his  life  he  married  an  elderly  lady,  who  sur- 
vived him.  He  was  esteemed  and  beloved  by  his 
congregations  for  the  many  amiable  qualities  of  his 
character,  as  well  as  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
pastoral  duties.  There  are  still  some  of  his  former 
parishioners  on  this  side  of  the  grave,  who  hold  his 
learning,  piety  and  uniform  cheerful  disposition  in 
grateful  remembrance.  Mr.  Hazelius,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  had  for  eight  years  been  a  classical 
teacher  in  the  Gymnasium  at  Nazareth,  Pennsylvania, 
received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  congregations, 
that  had  been  under  the  pastoral  care  of -the  late  Mr. 
Graf.  Mr.  Hazelius  was  ordained,  September  6,  1809, 
by  the  ministerium  of  the  State  of  New  York,  with 
which  body  he  remained  in  connexion  beyond  the 
close  of  this  period.  On  his  return  from  Synod  he 
commenced  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial  labors. — 


140  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

As  there  had  been  occasional  preaching  only  in  these 
congregations  during  the  last  years  of  Mr.  Graf's  life, 
a  considerable  number  of  the  church  members  had 
connected  themselves  with  other  societies,  or  had 
grown  cold  and  indifferent ;  but  by  the  blessing  of 
God  the  churches  gradually  revived.  In  1815,  Rev. 
Mr.  Hendrix  took  charge  of  the  congregations.  This 
gentleman  was  a  graduate  of  Union  college,  Schenec- 
tady,  and  had  pursued  Theological  studies  under  the 
direction  of  Rev.  Frederick  Mayer,  at  Albany.  In 
1819  Mr.  Hendrix  having  accepted  a  call  from  the 
congregations  in  Bergen  county,  Rev.  Mr.  Pohlman, 
became  his  successor,  who  has  labored  23  years  in 
these  congregations  with  acceptance  and  the  approba- 
tion of  the  Lord,  and  is  now,  as  observed  before,  Pas- 
tor of  Ebenezer  church  at  Albany. 

In  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  a  host 
of  faithful  laborers  were  zealously  engaged  in  winning 
souls  for  Christ.  The  Rev.  Nicholas  Kurtz  had  la- 
bored during  the  four  last  decennia  of  the  18th  century 
in  several  churches  in  Pennsylvania.  When  age  and 
bodily  infirmities  prevented  him  from  a  continuance  in 
active  service,  he  found  a  welcome  asylum  in  the  fam- 
ily of  his  son,  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Kurtz,  pastor  of  Zion's 
church  in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  He  departed  this 
life  in  1794 ;  his  earthly  remains  sleep  in  the  church- 
yard of  Zion's  church  until  the  day  of  the  resurrection. 
Spiritual  success  does  not  seem  to  have  attended  the 
labors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Friederici  in  the  congregation  of 
the  city  of  Frederick.  In  1806  the  Rev.  David  F. 
Schaeffer  became  his  successor.  This  gentleman  en- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          141 

tered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  pastoral  duties  with 
zeal  and  energy,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  beholding 
the  growth  of  the  congregation  both  in  numerical  as 
well  as  spiritual  strength.  As  a  friend  to  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  young,  he  established  a  Sunday  school  in  his 
church,  which  under  the  blessing  of  faithful  teachers  be- 
came nourishing.  The  Rev.  Dr.  J.  G.  Schmucker  serv- 
ed the  congregation  in  Hagerstown  with  pious  zeal,  in 
the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  and  his  Lord 
and  Saviour  permitted  his  servant  to  experience,  that 
the  faithful  preaching  of  the  cross  of  Christ  is  still  the 
divine  power  to  the  salvation  of  all,  who  believe. — 
This  brother,  having  taken  charge  of  the  church  at 
York,  after  the  departure  of  pastor  Goering,  the  Rev. 
Solomon  F.  Schaeffer  attended  for  a  short  time  the 
church  at  Hagerstown,  but  was  soon  called  from 
earthly  troubles  to  the  rest  above.  In  Yorktown,  Pastor 
Goering  had  been  the  watchman  on  the  walls  of  Zion 
for  many  years,  at  first,  as  the  adjunct  of  his  father-in- 
law,  the  Rev.  William  Kurtz,  and  after  a  short  inter^ 
val,  which  he  spent  in  the  service  of  the  church  in  Ha- 
gerstown, he  returned  to  his  beloved  people  at  York 
and  its  neighboring  congregations.  Here  he  remained, 
until  the  Lord  called  him  home  in  the  53d  year  of  his 
useful  life.  Our  brother  was  born  in  1754  in  the  coun- 
ty of  York,  Pennsylvania.  In  his  early  childhood  he 
already  manifested  great  engagedness  for  learning  and 
mental  improvement.  His  very  plays  with  his  school 
companions  appeared  to  indicate  the  bend  of  his  mind 
to  the  clerical  profession.  For  he  frequently  collected 
them  around  him  in  the  hours  of  intermission  from 
13 


142          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

school  duty,  to  sing,  pray  and  preach  for  them,  so 
that  he  generally  passed  in  school  by  the  title  of  "the 
young  minister."  With  his  years,  the  thirst  after 
knowledge  increased ;  so  that  his  father, — means  of 
improvement  failing  at  home, — went  with  him  to  Rev. 
Dr.  Helmuth  at  Lancaster,  to  obtain  his  advice  res- 
pecting his  son.  The  Doctor  soon  discovered  the  lad's 
capabilities  for  improvement,  and  took  him  under  his 
own  care  and  instruction.  After  the  completion  of  his 
classical  and  Theological  studies  under  the  tuition  of 
his  pious  and  learned  instructor,  Mr.  Goering  preached 
in  several  country  congregations  with  much  accep- 
tance. He  had  married  when  young,  but  the  Lord 
soon  removed  her,  whom  our  brother  had  chosen  as 
the  companion  of  his  life.  This  loss  led  Mr.  Goering 
deeper  into  experimental  religion.  From  that  time 
he  preached  with  greater  energy  and  zeal,  having  truly 
experienced,  that  through  repentance  and  faith  alone, 
we  receive  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins,  justification  be- 
fore God,  and  the  hope  of  everlasting  happiness  be- 
yond the  grave.  His  last  illness  was  a  slow  consump- 
tion, but  he  bore  his  sufferings  with  Christian  resigna- 
tion and  fortitude.  As  long  as  his  declining  strength 
would  permit,  he  continued  his  labors  in  the  con- 
gregation of  his  charge.  When  bodily  infirmities  de- 
prived him  of  that  satisfaction,  he  ceased  not  to  exhort 
the  members  of  his  church,  that  came  to  see  him,  to 
bear  eternity  always  in  view.  At  length  the  Lord  re- 
leased him  from  all  his  sufferings,  and  permitted  him 
to  fall  asleep  in  full  confidence  in  Jesus  his  Redeemer. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  J.  G.  Schmucker,  became  his  successor 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  143 

in  office,  in  which  he  continued  the  blessed  work  of 
leading  souls  to  Christ,  far  beyond  the  period,  the  oc- 
currences of  which  are  now  laid  before  the  public. — 
We  merely  now  remark,  that  the  reflection  of  having 
experienced  the  blessing  of  God  during  the  long  term 
of  his  service  to  the  church,  will  sweeten  the  hours  of 
rest,  which  our  Brother  now  enjoys,  and  when  he  shall 
have  been  called  from  earth,  the  meeting  of  souls  in 
the  realms  of  bliss,  whom  God  invited  through  his  in- 
strumentality to  eternal  life,  will  enhance  his  enjoy- 
ment even  of  heavenly  bliss. 

Dr.  Helmuth  having  exchanged  Lancaster  for  Phil- 
adelphia, the  church  at  Lancaster  enjoyed  for  some 
time  the  services  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  a  son  of  Dr. 
Henry  M.  Muhlenberg.  Dr.  Endress  succeeded  him, 
and  when  that  gentleman  accepted  a  call  to  Easton, 
Pastor  Baker  from  German  town  took  charge  of  the 
church,  in  which  he  is  still  laboring  with  success.  De- 
voted to  the  safe  principle,  that  early  obtained  instruc- 
tion is  the  surest  means  for  laying  the  foundation  of 
lasting  religious  impressions,  he  has  by  indefatigable 
labor  and  untiring  perseverance,  raised  the  Sunday 
school  in  his  church  to  a  high  degree  of  prosperity. — 
From  the  congregation  in  Harrisburg  wre  have  not 
been  able  to  gather  any  information  previous  to  the 
time,  when  the  Rev.  Christian  F.  Schaeffer,  then  a  can- 
didate of  the  ministry  in  connexion  with  the  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  chosen  as  their  preacher  in  1813. 
Dr.  Lochman  succeeded  Mr.  Schaeffer,  and  remained 
the  Pastor  of  this  church  to  the  time  of  his  departure 
in  1727.  A  grand-son  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  Pastor 


144          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

of  the  church  in  Reading  in  the  commencement  of  the 
present  century ;  after  his  departure  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob 
Miller,  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Helmuth  and  Dr.  Geissenhainer 
was  elected  Pastor,  which  station  he  is  still  filling. 
His  long  services  in  that  church,  as  well  as  the  fact, 
that  this  brother  has  repeatedly  been  called  to  the 
chair  in  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  and  ministerium,  are 
strong  proofs  of  the  affection  of  his  people,  and  of  the 
high  estimation,  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  brethren  of 
the  Synod. 

The  old  church  at  Germantown  had  been  served  by 
a  long  succession  of  worthy  and  pious  ministers,  from 
the  days  of  Brunholz,  Handshuh,  Voight,  andBusJdrk, 
to  those  of  brother  Frederick  Schaeffer.  When  after 
the  death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Schmidt,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schaeffer 
was  chosen  second  pastor  of  Zion  and  St.  Michael's 
churches  in  Philadelphia,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baker  served 
the  congregation,  until  his  removal  to  Lancaster,  when 
brother  Benjamin  Keller  accepted  the  call  as  minister 
of  the  congregation  of  Germantown  and  neighboring 
churches.  Chambersburg,  which  had  been  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moeller,  was  after  his 
removal  for  some  considerable  time  destitute  of  the 
services  of  a  settled  pastor,  until  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
KurtZj  from  Hagerstown,  accepted  a  call  from  that 
congregation,  and  continued  to  seive  it  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  the  town  of  Hanover  in  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  the  Rev.  John  F.  Melsheimer 
was  stationed  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  took 
place  February  12,  1829.  He  had  reached  the  age  of 
44  years,  8  months  and  6  days.  In  his  obituary  no- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  145 

tice  the  Editor  of  the  Lutheran  Intelligencer  remarks  : 
"  The  concourse  of  the  people  from  all  directions  at 
his  funeral,  which  was  attended  to  by  Professor 
Schmucker,  notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  was  immense,  and  testified  the  unshaken 
friendship  and  affection,  entertained  for  the  deceased, 
for  which  his  long  and  intimate  intercourse  with  the 
community  and  the  congregations — Mr.  Melsheimer 
having  been  also  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Ox- 
ford— had  laid  the  lasting  foundation." 

In  the  town  of  Gettysburg  and  the  congregations  of 
its  immediate  neighborhood,  the  brethren  Grob,  Heine 
and  Herbst  officiated  during  this  period. 

The  desire  of  introducing  the  English  language  into 
the  service  of  the  church  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
became  very  general  about  this  time,  and  it  cannot  be 
denied,  that  the  obstinate  opposition  of  the  pastors  of 
St.  Michael  and  Zion's  churches  to  the  measure,  fre- 
quently led  to  unpleasant  scenes  and  results.  The 
friends  of  the  change  were  in  general  the  children  and 
posterity  of  the  original  founders  of  the  Lutheran 
churches  in  the  city  ;  the  opponents  were  for  the  most 
part  emigrants  from  Germany,  who  had  not  seen  the 
days  of  trial,  borne  by  the  fathers  of  the  church  in  the 
times  of  a  Muhlenberg  and  JBrunholz,  and  who  had 
contributed  but  little  to  the  support  of  the  gospel. — 
The  consequences  of  such  a  contest  were  unfavorable 
to  the  cause  of  piety  and  godliness,  as  well  as  to  the 
interests  and  external  growth  of  the  church.  Many 
families  hitherto  in  connexion  with  the  Lutheran  church 
in  the  city,  resolved  therefore,  rather  to  leave  that  con- 
13* 


146  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

nexion,  than  to  be  spectators  and  participants  in  the 
down-hill  course  of  the  church  of  their  fathers. 

At  length  a  separation  took  place  between  the  con- 
tending parties ;  those,  who  favored  the  introduction 
of  the  English  language,  formed  themselves  into  a  new 
corporation,  and  called  the  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  F.  Mayer 
of  Athens  in  the  State  of  New  York,  as  their  pastor. 

While  the  new  edifice  in  Race  street  was  in  build- 
ing, the  congregation  worshipped  in  the  chapel  of  the 
Philadelphia  Academy.  In  the  spring  of  1809  the 
new  house  was  finished,  and  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  God  by  the  Pastor,  under  the  name  of  St.  John's 
church.  From  that  time  the  congregation  has  contin- 
ued to  increase,  and  numbered  in  a  few  years  nearly 
as  many  members  as  the  German  Lutheran  churches 
in  the  city,  in  which  the  Rev.  Drs.  Helmuth  and 
Schmidt  were  officiating.  In  1811  it  pleased  God,  to 
call  the  Rev  Dr.  Schmidt  to  his  rest.  Dr.  David  Fr. 
Schaeffer,  senior,  of  Germantown,  was  elected  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  About  this  time  a  number  of  those,  who 
during  the  first  controversy  had  opposed  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  English  language,  being  convinced  of  their 
error,  when  they  saw  their  families  growing  up  with- 
out the  benefit  of  that  religious  instruction,  which  they 
needed,  followed  the  example  of  separation  from  the 
German  congregation.  St.  John's  church  cheerfully 
admitted  as  many  of  her  former  opponents,  as  the 
house  could  accommodate,  but  for  all  there  was  no 
room.  A  second  English  Lutheran  congregation  was 
therefore  formed  and  organized,  by  the  name  of  St. 
Mattfww's  church,  and  the  Rev.  C.  P.  Krauth  received 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          147 

and  accepted  the  call  as  Pastor.  In  St.  John's  church 
a  Tract  Society  was  formed,  whose  publications  are 
deserving  the  attention  of  all,  who  love  practical  re- 
ligion without  show  and  parade. 

In  Baltimore,  Dr.  Daniel  Kurtz,  who  had  succee- 
ded the  Rev.  Mr.  Gerock  in  1787,  continued  during 
this  period  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  of- 
fice, frequently  under  severe  trials.  The  assurance  of 
the  Lord's  approbation  was  his  solace  in  the  midst  of 
his  arduous  labors.  . 

Few  were  the  Lutheran  churches  in  Virginia.  Win- 
chester congregation  enjoyed  for  some  time  the  labors 
of  the  Rev.  Abraham  Reck,  until  he  accepted  a  call 
from  the  church  in  Middletown,  Maryland.  The  con- 
gregation at  New  Market  was  attended  by  the  Rev. 
Peter  Schmucker  and  afterwards  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
S.  Schmucker.  This  Divine  had  received  his  Theo- 
logical education  in  the  Seminary  of  Princeton,  and  la- 
bored successfully  in  the  portion  of  the  Lord's  vine- 
yard, assigned  to  him  for  cultivation.  Rev.  Nicolas 
Schmucker  was  the  pastor  of  Woodstock  congrega- 
tions. Our  clerical  brethren  in  North  Carolina,  who 
had  hitherto  continued  in  connexion  with  the  Synod 
of  Pennsylvania,  resolved,  to  form  a  Synod  in  their 
own  State.  Information  of  this  step  having  been  given 
to  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  and  being  approved, 
the  brethren  in  North  Carolina  met  in  1803  for  the  first 
time,  and  assumed  the  name  of  the  Synod  of  North 
Carolina  and  adjacent  States.  Its  constitution  or  rules 
were  formed  in  the  spirit  of  the  constitution  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Synod.  Rev,  Mr.  Stork  was  elected 


148         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

first  President  of  the  new  Synod.  Through  the  in- 
strumentality of  this  brother  and  the  activity  of  the 
Rev.  Gottlieb  Schober,  the  church  began  to  assume  a 
brighter  aspect  than  before  the  formation  of  Synod. — 
Missionary  operations  were  extended  into  Tennessee, 
into  the  western  parts  of  Virginia  and  into  South  Car- 
olina. 

From  the  Synodical  minutes  of  1819  we  learn,  that 
a  Theological  school  had  been  established  in  Tennes- 
see, of  which  the  Rev.  Philip  Henkel  and  J.  E.  Bell 
were  Directors,  that  considerable  sums  had  been  pre- 
sented to  Synod  for  its  support,  especially  from 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  that  this  Ecclesiastical  body 
did  express  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  in- 
stitution, by  desiring  its  Directors  to  form  a  plan  for 
a  constitution,  to  be  laid  before  Synod  at  its  next  ses- 
sion, for  approval  or  amendment,  and  by  promising, 
that  Synod  would  consent  on  this  condition,  not  only 
to  apply  the  sums  received,  which  were  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  Directors  for  the  support  of  the  school, 
but  also  to  assist  the  institution  in  every  other  manner, 
pointed  out  by  Providence.  But  it  appears,  that  want 
of  harmony  in  action,  between  the  Directors  of  the 
school  and  Synod  became  the  cause  of  its  final  dis- 
continuance. In  this  disharmony  we  may  also  discov- 
er the  origin  of  a  separation  of  some  members  of  Sy- 
nod from  the  rest  of  the  brethren.  For  there  exists  no 
other  rational  cause,  why  the  Rev.  Philip  Henkel 
should  have  espoused  the  unholy  cause  of  his  brother 
David  Henkel)  which  has  since  occasioned  a  breach  in 
the  church,  that  is  not  healed  to  this  day.  Unpleasant 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          149 

as  the  duty  is,  yet  historical  faithfulness  compels  us,  to 
perform  it  impartially,  without  fear  or  favor. 

David  Henkel,  son  of  the  Rev.  Paul  Henkel,  was 
connected  with  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina  as  candi- 
date of  the  ministry.  At  the  session  of  Synod  in  1819 
complaints  were  laid  before  Synod,  that  Mr.  David 
Henkel  should  have  acted  in  an  unchristian  manner 
towards  Mr.  Andrew  Hoyl  of  Lincoln  county,  and 
that  he  had  excommunicated  Mr.  Adam  Castner  with- 
out sufficient  cause.  Both  accusations  were  sustained 
by  Synod,  and  a  resolution  was  passed,  that  David 
Henkel  should  be  deprived  of  his  license  as  candidate, 
but  might  still  officiate  for  six  months  in  his  congre- 
gations as  catechet,  and  discretionary  power  was  ves- 
ted in  the  President  to  restore  him  his  former  license, 
if  Mr.  D.  Henkel  after  the  lapse  of  six  months  should 
produce  satisfactory  proof,  that  peace  was  restored  in 
his  congregations,  and  that  the  complaints  of  our  re- 
formed brethren  against  him  were  settled.*  It  is  ne- 
cessary to  observe  here,  that  the  session  of  Synod  for 
1819  had  been  held  April  25th,  instead  of  on  Trinity 
Sunday,  as  had  been  customary,  because  information 
had  been  received  from  Rev.  Dr.  George  Schmucker, 
President  of  Pennsylvania  Synod,  that  a  Union  or  Gen- 
eral Synod  was  in  contemplation,  and  that  a  conven- 
tion of  ministers  and  lay  members  from  the  different 
Synods  would  be  held  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
the  measure,  and  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina  w^as  in- 
vited to  attend  said  convention  by  a  delegation,  which 

*See  minutes  of  N.  Carolina  Synod  of  1819,  pages  10  and  11, — 
German  copy. 


150  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

could  not  be  chosen,  if  the  session  of  Synod  should  not 
be  held  at  an  earlier  day.  Information  had  been  giv- 
en of  this  change  by  the  Secretary,  and  it  appears,  that 
no  objection  was  offered  by  any  member,  except  by 
Rev.  Philip  Henkel,  who  had  declared  in  writing,  that 
he  would  attend  the  meeting  of  Synod  at  the  usual 
time  on  Trinity  Sunday.*  David  Henkel  had  been 
present  at  the  Synod  of  1819  without  objecting  to  the 
change  of  time.  On  Trinity  Sunday  Rev.  Philip  Hen- 
kel, and  candidate  Joseph  E.  Bell,  and  catechet  David 
Henkel  met  at  BufFaloe  creek  church,  Lincoln  county, 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  Synod.  On  this  occasion 
Joseph  Bell  and  David  Henkel  were  ordained  by 
Philip  Henkel,  without  the  knowledge  and  consent  of 
the  N.  C.  Synod;  and  the  transactions  of  Synod  were 
declared  null  and  void,  by  these  men,  who  assumed 
the  name  and  title  of  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina. — 
When  Synod  assembled  in  the  church  near  Lincolnton, 
May  29th,  1820,  they  found  the  church  pre-occupicd 
by  the  ministers  Rev.  Paul  and  Philip  Henkel,  candi- 
date Joseph  E.  Bell  and  ex-catechet  David  Henkel. 
An  exposition  of  the  proceedings  of  last  Synod  hav- 
ing been  given  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Stork,  President 
of  Synod,  and  the  Rev.  Gottlieb  Shober,  Secretary, 
and  after  an  open  declaration  on  the  part  of  Synod, 
that  every  thing  should  be  forgiven,  as  errors  had 
been  committed  on  both  sides,  the  opponents  replied 
to  the  question,  whether  they  \vould  unite  ?  in  the  neg- 
ative, and  gave  as  reason,  "  because  tJie  Synod  did  not 
teach  water  baptism  to  be  regeneration ;  2.  because  this 
*  See  minutes  of  Synodical  meetings  of  1820,  page  5. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          151 

body  did  not  accept  the  elements  in  the  Eucharist  as  the 
true  body  and  blood  of  the  Lord,  corporeally  ;  3.  because 
the  plan  for  a  general  union  of  our  church  was  against 
the  Augsburg  confession"* 

Such  is  the  origin  of  the  Tennessee  Synod,  so  called. 
David  Henkel  now  became  a  reformer,  denouncing 
the  North  Carolina  Synod,  as  well  as  all  other  Ameri- 
can Lutheran  Synodical  bodies  to  be  heretical ;  he 
taught,  as  far  as  his  language  in  his  book  entitled — 
"  Heavenly  flood  of  regeneration"  is  to  be  understood, 
that  water  baptism  constitutes  regeneration,  he  incul- 
cated an  almost  Capernaitic  eating  and  drinking  of  the 
body  and  blood  of  Christ  in  the  Lord's  Supper,  and 
represented  "  Christian  faith"  to  be  simply  an  assent 
to  the  truths  of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  without 
any  practical  application  thereof  to  the  heart.  All  these 
doctrines  approach  so  near  to  Romanism,  that  we  can- 
not be  astonished  to  learn,  that  Hinkelism  has  found 
a  champion  in  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  of  the  Ro- 
man Diocese  of  Charleston.  The  union  of  the  Amer- 
ican Lutheran  churches  in  General  Synod  is  still  rep- 
resented by  the  followers  of  David  Henkel  as  a  measure 
replete  with  mischief,  threatening  imminent  danger  to 
the  liberties  of  the  American  people.  Not  satisfied 
even  with  aspersions  of  so  heinous  a  character,  they 
have  not  unfrequently  disturbed  the  peace  of  the  chur- 
ches, by  making  forcible  entries  into  houses  of  wor- 
ship, acts,  which  the  Rev.  A.  Miller  in  a  debate  with 
Br.  Hope  defended,  as  being  in  conformity  with  our 
free  institutions.  These  deplorable  occurrences,  how- 

*  See  minutes  of  Synodical  metings  of  1820,  page  6. 


152          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

ever,  did  not  altogether  dishearten  our  brethren,  be- 
cause they  were  aware,  that  Satan  will  sow  tares  among 
the  wheat,  and  that  in  many  instances  both  must  grow 
together  until  the  harvest.  They  likewise  knew  that 
external  prosperity  has  never  enhanced  the  spiritual 
well-being  of  the  church,  and  that  she  has  to  acknowl- 
edge with  all  individual  Christians,  "it  was  good  for 
me  to  be  afflicted."  Therefore  our  North  Carolina 
brethren  did  likewise  not  despair ;  the  stormy  sky 
taught  them  to  fasten  the  hatches,  to  furl  the  sails  and 
to  take  care  of  the  helm.  But  few  were  the  men,  who 
had  charge  of  the  bark.  JVussman  and  Jirndt  had  de- 
parted, Bernhardt,  their  travelling  companion  across 
the  Ocean,  had  taken  his  abode  in  South  Carolina. — 
But  the  Lord  awakened  other  men  in  the  place  of 
those,  whom  he  had  called  from  their  labors.  Rev. 
Mr.  Shober  from  Salem,  Stokes  county,  united  himself 
with  the  North  Carolina  Synod,  and  soon  became  one 
of  its  most  active  members  ;  and  several  younger  mem- 
bers suffered  themselves  to  be  enlisted  in  the  service 
of  the  church. 

In  South  Carolina  very  few  Lutheran  ministers  were 
laboring.  The  men,  who  had  formed  the  corpus  Evan- 
gelicum  in  1787  had  departed ;  except  Daser  and 
Wallern ;  the  former  appears  to  have  left  Charleston 
in  consequence  of  some  disagreement  with  the  congre- 
gation, the  latter  had  separated  from  the  ecclesiastical 
association,  and  remained  unconnected  with  any  cler- 
ical body  to  the  time  of  his  death.  The  brethren  in 
the  service  of  the  church  in  South  Carolina  were  :  Fa- 
ber  in  Charleston,  Franklow  in  Amelia,  Bernhard  and 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          153 

Meetze  in  Lexington  District.  Rev.  Mr.  Bernhard 
departed  this  life  in  1802 ;  and  his  death  placed  the 
church  in  the  most  destitute  situation.  Ministerial  aid 
could  not  be  expected  from  abroad ;  the  brethren  in 
North  Carolina  were  unable  to  satisfy  the  calls  for 
ministers  in  their  own  State,  and  from  the  brethren  in 
the  North  no  help  could  be  obtained,  being  unable  to 
fill  the  vacancies  in  their  immediate  neighborhoods. 
Under  these  circumstances  a  brother  devoted  himself 
to  the  service  of  the  church,  who  under  a  different 
state  of  things  would  not  have  thought  of  entering  the 
ministry.  This  brother  is  the  Rev.  Michael  Ranch. 
The  Lord  had  led  him  by  the  guidance  of  his  Spirit, 
to  see  his  own  want  of  a  Savior,  and  having  found  him 
precious  to  his  koul,  he  became  desirous,  of  recom- 
mending Him  to  his  neighbors  and  friends.  Having 
for  some  time  kept  meetings  for  prayer  and  exhorta- 
tion in  his  immediate  neighborhood,  he  was  prevailed 
upon,  to  apply  to  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina  for  li- 
cense to  preach,  and  to  discharge  the  other  duties  of 
the  ministerial  office.  About  this  time  the  Rev.  God- 
frey Dreher,  who  had  been  a  preacher  in  the  Metho- 
dist denomination,  returned  to  the  church  of  his  fath- 
ers, and  connected  himself  likewise  with  the  North 
Carolina  Synod. 

After  David  Henkel  had  occasioned  the  breach  in 
the  Synod  of  North  Carolina,  of  which  a  brief  account 
has  been  given,  he  came  to  South  Carolina  with  a 
view  to  gain  the  brethren  in  the  western  parts  of  the 
State  over  to  his  sentiments.  A  consultation  on  the 
subject  was  held,  but  his  plans  were  frustrated  by  the 
14 


154          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

perseverance  and  proper  feelings  of  the  brethren. 
About  this  time  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Bachman  received 
a  call  as  Pastor  of  the  church  in  Charleston.  This 
brother  is  still  successfully  laboring  in  the  same  field. 
Respecting  the  spiritual  state  of  the  church  at  Eben- 
ezer  we  can  say  but  little.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Bergman, 
senior,  was  pastor  of  this  people.  In  former  years  the 
members  of  that  church  had  either  been  Germans 
themselves,  or  the  immediate  descendants  of  German 
parents.  Bolzius,  Gronau,  Lemke  and  Rabenhorst 
had  therefore  been  enabled  to  labor  effectually  in  the 
language  of  the  Father-land.  But  time  had  effected 
a  great  change.  The  tide  of  emigration  from  Europe 
had  been  diverted  from  the  Southern  States,  the 
posterity  of  the  Germans  in  the  South,  surrounded  as 
they  were  by  English  speaking  neighbors,  had  lost 
the  language  of  their  fathers,  and  could  consequently 
derive  no  benefit  from  the  instruction  of  German  pas- 
tors. Hence  a  large  portion  of  the  rising  generation 
detached  themselves  from  the  church  of  their  fathers, 
and  joined  other  denominations. 

The  State  of  Ohio,  forming  at  the  close  of  the  18th 
century  a  part  of  the  immense  Territory  north- wTest  of 
the  Ohio  River,  and  which  in  1790  contained  but  3000 
white  inhabitants,  had  received  until  1802  so  large  an 
addition  of  citizens,  that  it  was  admitted  into  the  num- 
ber of  the  free  and  independent  States  of  the  great  re- 
public of  the  United  States  of  America.  Among  the 
first  settlers  were  likewise  many  members  of  our 
church.  The  ministers  in  Ohio  continued  for  some 
time  in  connexion  with  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania, 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          155 

but  distance  of  the  places  of  meeting,  as  well  as  the 
increase  of  pastors  within  the  bounds  of  the  State,  in- 
duced the  churches  in  1818  to  form  themselves  into  a 
separate  body,  by  the  title :  a  The  Evangelical  Luthe- 
ran German  minis  terium  of  Ohio  and  adjacent  States." 
This  new  Synod  transacted  business  during  the  first 
years  of  its  existence  exclusively  in  the  German  lan- 
guage. In  the  course  of  nine  years,  95  churches  had 
been  organized,  which  were  under  the  charge  of  25 
pastors.  Hitherto  the  connection  between  the  existing 
Synods  had  been  kept  up  by  the  mission  of  delegates 
from  one  Synod  to  another.  Many  zealous  members 
of  the  church  were  however  convinced,  that  this  bond 
of  union  was  too  weak,  to  exert  a  truly  beneficial  in- 
fluence on  the  whole  church.  As  strength  consists  in 
unity  of  action,  the  desire  for  the  establishment  of  a 
Union  or  General  Synod  became  stronger  with  the  in- 
crease of  the  church.  In  many  cases  the  operations 
of  an  Ecclesiastical  body  require  the  united  strength 
and  efforts  of  every  part,  in  order  to  become  effectual ; 
such  are,  for  instance :  the  establishment  of  perma- 
nent Foreign  and  Home  Missionary  Societies,  of 
schools  and  Literary  institutions,  and  of  Seminaries  for 
the  education  of  pious  men  for  the  ministry.  But  there 
is  one  object  in  particular,  which  naught  else  can 
equally  as  well  cherish  and  preserve,  as  a  truly  united 
ecclesiastical  body  of  a  whole  Christian  denomination. 
The  religion  of  Christ  is  the  religion  of  peace  and  good 
will  towards  men ;  of  that  peace  and  that  love  all 
those  ought  to  be  rich  participants  beyond  all  others, 
who  have  been  called  to  proclaim  this  religion  to  their 


156  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

fellow-men,  and  its  beneficial  effect  ought  to  manifest 
itself  in  a  peculiar  manner  among  those  heralds  of  the 
cross,  who  are  laboring  together  in  one  portion  of  the 
Lord's  vineyard.  And  what,  we  ask,  would  produce 
that  effect  more  fully,  what  would  cherish  it  more,  than 
if  co-laborers  were  to  meet  from  time  to  time,  and 
were  to  see  and  feel,  that,  though  views  respecting  the 
manner,  of  accomplishing  good  in  the  church,  may 
sometimes  vary, — all  have  but  one  mind, — to  promote 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  among  men.  Such  sentiments, 
and  others  similar  to  these,  pervaded  the  hearts  of 
many  members  and  well-wishers  to  our  Zion.  A  con- 
vention of  some  friends  of  the  church,  was  the  result 
of  these  sentiments  and  feelings.  It  met  at  Hagers- 
town  in  1820.  From  Pennsylvania  were  present :  — 
Rev.  Dr.  John  G.  bchmucker,  Rev.  Dr.  Endress,  Rev. 
Dr.  Frederick.  W.  Geissenhainer,  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel 
Kurtz,  and  Rev.  David  F.  Schaeffer.  From  the  Syn- 
od of  New  York:  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  Mayer,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Christian  F.  Schaeffer.  From  North  Carolina : 
The  Rev.  George  Schober.  The  object  of  this  conven- 
tion was,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  establishing  a 
General  Synod  in  the  Lutheran  church,  and  if  that 
measure  were  approved,  to  form  a  plan  for  a  constitu- 
tion of  said  General  Synod,  with  a  view  to  lay  it  before 
the  respective  State  and  District  Synods,  for  examina- 
tion, amendment,  approval  or  rejection.  It  was  also 
agreed  in  convention,  that  if  two  of  the  three  Synods, 
represented  in  the  convention,  should  approve  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  General  Synod,  as  well  as  the  plan 
for  its  constitution,  at  least  in  general,  that  then  the 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  157 

General  Synod  should  be  considered  as  established, 
and  the  chairman  of  the  convention  was  requested,  in 
that  case  to  call  a  meeting  for  the  organization  of  that 
body,  to  convene  at  Frederick,  in  Maryland,  in  the 
month  of  October,  1821.  In  the  mean  time,  however, 
it  became  manifest,  that  there  were  men,  both  in  and 
out  of  the  church,  hostile  to  the  establishment  of  a 
General  Synod,  because  they  either  feared,  or  preten-* 
ded  to  fear,  that  the  existence  of  such  a  body  as  the 
G.  S.  might  prove  injurious  to  the  liberties  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  to  the  independent  character  of  the  District 
Synods.  Many  voices  were  therefore  raised  against 
this  measure,  especially  in  the  Eastern  parts  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  even  ministers  of  the  gospel — though 
not  in  the  service  of  our  church — exerted  all  their  in-- 
fluence  to  excite  the  people  against  the  project.  While 
these  subjects  were  in  agitation,  the  clergy  and  con- 
gregations in  Maryland,  hitherto  in  connection  with 
the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  who  had  for  some  time 
been  contemplating  the  establishment  of  a  separate  and 
independent  State  Synod,  resolved  upon  the  measure 
at  that  time,  in  as  much  as  the  number  of  churches 
had  greatly  increased  of  late  years,  and  the  yearly  at- 
tendance on  the  meetings  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod 
was  found  inconvenient  on  account  of  distance.  The 
circumstance,  that  all  the  ministers  and  churches  in 
that  State  were  favorable  to  the  formation  of  a  Gene- 
ral  Synod,  may  have  hastened  the  execution  of  the  de- 
sign, though  on  that  point  we  speak  merely  from  con- 
jecture, the  fact  however  is,  that  this  Synod  was 
formed  and  held  its  first  session  in  1820. 


158  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  this  new  ecclesiastical  body 
was  its  assent  to  the  plan  for  the  constitution  of  the 
General  Synod  proposed  at  the  last  convention.  The 
Pennsylvania  Synod  during  its  session  of  1821,  also 
resolved  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  by  a  small 
majority.  In  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina  the  question 
was  likewise  decided  in  the  affirmative.  But  the  Sy- 
nod of  New  York*  rejected  the  proposition  by  a  con- 
siderable majority.  Pennsylvania,  therefore,  Maryland 
and  North  Carolina  sent  their  respective  delegations 
to  the  first  meeting  of  the  General  Synod,  convened 
at  Frederick,  Maryland,  October  22d,  1821 .  The  first 
officers  of  this  body  were  :  Rev.  Mr.  Schober  of  North 
Carolina,  President ;  Rev.  David  F.  Schaeffer  of  the 
Synod  of  Maryland,  Secretary,  and  C.  A.  Barnitz, 
Esq.,  of  Pennsylvania,  Treasurer.! 

*  The  Synod  of  New  York  united  however,  afterwards,  with 
the  General  Synod. 

t  See  Appendix  for  constitution  of  the  General  Synod  as  adop- 
ted by  that  body  and  as  amended  in  succeeding  sessions. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

History  of  the  American  Lutheran  church,  from  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  General  Synod  to  the  centenary 
year.  From  1821  to  1842. 

I.  THE  SYNOD  OF  NEW  YORK. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  W.  Starman  continued  during 
this  whole  period  notwithstanding  his  advanced  age  to 
labor  in  that  portion  of  the  Lord's  vineyard,  where  his 
Providence  had  placed  him,  in  the  year  1811,  and 
that  not  without  the  blessing  of  the  Lord.  It  has  been 
noticed,  that  the  congregation  of  Waldoborough  con- 
sisted of  both  German  Lutherans  and  German  Refor- 
med members,  and  that  the  ministers  of  this  congre- 
gation were  wont  to  administer  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  to  each  part  according  to  the  form,  in 
which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  receive  it.  This 
mode  continued  to  be  observed  until  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Starman  came  among  them.  In  speaking  of  this  cir- 
cumstance, the  Rev.  gentleman  observes:  "When  I 
came  to  Waldoborough,  I  was  unanimously  chosen  to 
be  the  pastor  of  this  church  and  people.  The  Luthe- 
rans and  the  German  Reformed  had  then  the  custom, 
to  have  the  Lord's  Supper  administered  to  them,  not 
at  the  same  time,  but  separately.  I  followed  the  cus- 
tom, and  invited  the  other  party,  to  partake  with  us. 


160          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

There  were  few  in  the  beginning,  who  did  so,  howev- 
er their  number  increased,  and  on  the  17th  of  June, 
1829,  the  separation  wall  was  entirely  taken  away. 
A  meeting  of  the  church  members  of  both  parts  of  the 
congregation  was  held  on  that  day,  when  it  was  unan- 
imously resolved,  that  the  Lutherans  and  the  German 
Reformed  would  hereafter  commune  together,  accor- 
ding to  a  form,  which  was  likewise  agreed  upon,  after 
the  elements  had  been  consecrated  by  the  pastor,  in 
the  usual  mode,  practised  in  the  Lutheran  church. 
Since  that  time  both  classes  sit  together  at  the  Lord's 
table,  as  one  undivided  family  in  the  unity  of  faith, 
and  the  bonds  of  peace." 

In  1820  there  were  about  4000  communicants  in  the 
different  congregations  connected  with  the  Synod  of 
New  York.  The  Theological  Seminary  at  Hartwick, 
to  which  an  Academical  institution  was  attached,  be- 
gan at  this  time  to  exercise  a  beneficial  influence  on 
the  church.  Rev.  Mr.  Pohlman^  the  first  Theological 
Student  from  the  institution,  who  had  for  a  few  years 
officiated  in  the  congregations  of  Saddle  river  and 
Ramapaugh  in  Bergen  county,  New  Jersey,  exchan- 
ged locations  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  David  Hendricks,  the 
successor  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hazelius  in  New  German- 
town,  German  Valley  and  Spruce  Run  churches,  in 
which  Mr  Pohlman  has  continued  to  labor  with  suc- 
cess. The  Rev.  Mr.  George  B.  Miller,  who  had  been 
the  assistant  teacher  of  Mr.  Hazelius  in  a  classical 
school  at  New  Germantown,  had  accepted  a  call  from 
the  congregation  at  Canajoharie  on  the  Mohawk  river, 
after  having  united  himself  with  the  Synod  and  minis- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          161 

terium  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was  ordained 
with  Mr.  Pohlman  in  1820.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Fran- 
cis H.  Guenther  and  Adarn  Crownse,  both  former  stu- 
dents of  Theology  in  Hartwick  Seminary,  had  during 
the  Synodical  year  of  1823,  officiated  as  candidates  of 
the  ministerium  in  different  congregations,  the  former 
continued  his  services  in  the  new  congregations  of  Co- 
lumbia,  Warren  and  Danube,  the  latter  was  ordained 
as  pastor  of  the  churches  in  Sharon  and  Durlach, 
Schoharie  county.  The  Theological  students,  John 
Goertner,  Jacob  Senderling,  Charles  B.  Wessels,  and 
Perry  G.  Cole,  received  license  from  the  ministerium 
in  1824,  to  labor  in  various  congregations ;  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Peter  Goertner  was  engaged  as  missionary  to  the 
scattered  Lutherans  in  Canada ;  Rev.  Jacob  Senderling 
to  serve  the  newly  formed  congregation  in  the  town  of 
Cicero,  and  Perry  G.  Cole  among  the  churches  in  the 
town  of  Davenport,  Milford  and  Huntsville  in  Otsego 
and  Delaware  counties.  Mr.  Charles  B.  Wessels  as- 
sisted the  Rev.  Mr.  Frederick  C.  Schaeffer  in  the  city 
of  New  York  for  some  time,  and  afterwards  accepted 
a  call  as  an  Academical  teacher  at  Leesville,  Lexing- 
ton District,  S.  C.  In  the  Academical  department  of 
the  institution  71  classical  students  had  during  that 
year  received  instruction  in  the  various  branches,  pre- 
paratory for  entering  one  or  the  other  of  the  colleges  of 
the  State.  The  Rev.  John  Peter  Goertner  was  early 
called  from  his  ministerial  labors.  After  having  re- 
ceived license  in  1824,  he  spent  one  year  as  mission- 
ary of  Synod  in  visiting  the  vacant  congregations  in 
the  western  and  northern  parts  of  the  State,  and  also 


162  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

ourvbrethren  scattered  over  the  wide  extent  of  the  Bri- 
tish province  of  Canada.  By  this  visit  the  drooping 
spirit  of  OUJF  brethren,  destitute  of  the  word  of  life  was 
greatly  encouraged,  and  in  the  succeeding  year  the 
folio  win  j-churches  were  supplied  with  pastors :  The 
congregations  in  Fredericksburg  and  ErnesUown  in  Up- 
per Canada  called  the  Rev.  Francis  H.  Guenther;  the 
brethren  v&  Lowville,  Lewis  county  and  Le  Ray,  Jef- 
ferson county,  New  York,  the  Rev.  Philip  Wieting ; 
the  congregations  in  Ghent  and  Melville,  Columbia 
county,  accepted  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Ber- 
ger ;  and  Mr.  Goertner  accepted  the  call  to  Johnstown, 
Montgomery  county.  But  the  services  of  our  brother 
were  not  to  be  of  long  duration,  though  accompanied 
by  the  divine  blessing  during  their  continuance.  One 
of  the  editors  of  the  Lutheran  Magazine  in  noticing  Mr. 
Goertner's  departure  from  Johnstown  for  Europe  with 
the  view  to  the  re-establishment  of  his  health,  says : — 
"  The  position  of  the  church,  to  which  our  brother  min- 
istered, was  on  his  entering,  literally  a  spiritual  waste, 
but  by  his  indefatigable  zeal  and  amiable  deportment  he 
succeeded  in  organizing  a  congregation  of  sufficient 
strength,  to  be  able,  in  the  early  part  of  the  past  winter, 
to  give  him  a  call  for  life.  He  had  as  it  were,  but 
just  entered  upon  his  pastoral  duties,  when  he  was 
called  to  relinquish  them.  He  undertook  a  voyage  to 
Europe.  Afier  the  return  of  our  brother  to  the  land  of 
his  fathers,  he  was  still  unable  on  account  of  weakness 
and  indisposition  to  resume  active  labors  ;  and  it  soon 
became  apparent,  that  the  Lord  would  call  his  servant 
early  from  the  troubles  of  time  to  a  haven  of  rest.  He 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  163 

departed  this  life,  at  the  house  of  his  father,  Feb.  26th, 
1829.  We  close  these  notices  concerning  our  depar- 
ted Brother  with  an  extract  from  the  Johnstown  Her- 
ald,* written  about  the  time  of  Mr.  Goertner's  taking 
solemn  leave  of  the  congregation,  to  whom  he  had  for 
some  time  broken  the  bread  of  life.  "  Last  Sunday 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Goertner  pronounced  his  farewell  dis- 
course to  a  numerous  congregation,  who  had  assem- 
bled to  hear  their  pastor  for  the  last  time.  The  gloom 
that  pervaded  the  whole  assembly  before  the  preacher 
rose,  bore  ample  testimony  of  the  estimation,  in  which 
he  was  held  by  his  flock,  and  that  the  occasion  itself 
was  sufficiently  eloquent,  to  stir  up  the  melancholy 
feelings,  without  the  aid  of  words.  The  discourse  it- 
self was  plain,  simple  and  eloquent, f  and  was  deliv- 
ered in  a  feeling,  unostentatious  style.  It  was  recei- 
ved as  the  dying  injunction  of  a  spiritual  father,  whom 
they  should  see  no  more  forever.  Even  those,  who 
appeared  there  as  idle  spectators,  departed,  with  the 
gloom  of  melancholy  hanging  upon  their  countenan- 
ces, admiring  the  ways  of  Providence  in  the  selection 
of  an  object  for  his  afflictive  hand."  As  we  are  en- 
gaged in  the  delightful,  though  at  the  same  time 
mournful  subject  of  recalling  to  our  mind  the  remem- 
brance of  one  departed  friend,  our  thoughts  very  nat- 
urally turn  likewise  to  the  memory  of  another  brother, 

*  The  editor  of  that  political  paper  stood  in  no  connexion  with 
our  church. 

t  The  text  was :  Only  let  your  conversation  be  as  becometh 
the  gospel  of  Christ,  that  whether  I  come  and  see  you,  or  else, 
be  absent,  I  may  hear  of  your  affairs,  that  ye  stand  fast  in  one 
spirit,  with  one  mind,  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel. 


164          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

who  was  called  from  the  things  of  time  and  sense  to 
rest.  We  think  of  our  departed  brother  the  Rev.  Hen- 
ry Moeller,  who  departed  this  life,  September  16th,  of 
the  same  year,  in  Hartwick,  Otsego,  county,  in  the 
80th  year  of  his  life.  During  the  revolutionary  war  he 
had  served  as  chaplain  of  a  German  regiment  in  the 
army  commanded  by  General  Washington.  At  dif- 
ferent subsequent  periods  he  was  successively  enga- 
ged as  Pastor  of  churches  in  Pennsylvania,  afterwards 
at  Albany,  Guelderland,  Bern,  and  at  last  in  Sharon 
and  Durlach,  Schoharie  county.  His  labors  were 
blessed,  and  many  of  his  former  parishioners  are  still 
living,  who  bear  in  affectionate  remembrance  the  ex- 
hortations to  godliness  and  piety,  which  this  aged  ser- 
vant of  Christ  gave  them  while  ministering  unto  them. 
The  last  six  years  of  his  life  Mr.  Moeller  spent  in  re- 
tirement at  Hartwick,  being  unable  any  longer  to  pur- 
sue the  active  duties  of  his  office,  in  consequence  of 
his  bodily  infirmities.  Yet  he  occasionally  preached 
to  the  congregation  in  Hartwick  in  the  chapel  of  the 
Seminary.  After  the  loss  of  his  companion,  who  de- 
parted in  the  triumph  of  faith,  he  felt  lonesome,  and 
often  spoke  of  his  desire  to  follow  her,  and  to  be  with 
Christ,  to  whose  service  his  life  had  been  devoted. — 
His  wish  was  granted  September  16th,  1829,  as  above 
stated.  During  his  life  he  had  exhibited  a  bright  ex- 
ample of  the  genuine  spirit  of  religion.  He  now  rests 
from  his  labors,  and  his  works  do  follow  him. 

In  1827  the  Rev.  George  B.  Miller,  of  Canajoharie, 
accepted  the  call  as  assistant  Professor  of  the  Hart- 
wick Seminary,  in  which  station  he  continued  until 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          165 

1830,  when  in  consequence  of  the  removal  of  Dr.  Ha- 
zelius  to  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  he  was  elected  by 
the  Trustees  of  the  institution,  Professor  of  Theology; 
and  the  Rev.  Christian  B.  Thummel,  a  graduate  of  the 
university  of  Tubingen,  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the 
second  Professorship.  Mr.  Thummel  remained  for 
two  years  in  connexion  with  the  Seminary.  He  then 
accepted  an  invitation  to  superintend  a  classical  Acad- 
emy in  the  village  of  Clinton.  Rev.  Mr.  Miller  was 
obliged  for  some  time  to  attend  alone  both  the  classi- 
cal and  Theological  departments  in  the  institution. — 
Mr.  Francis  Springer,  a  student  of  Divinity  in  the  Sem- 
inary, was  appointed  tutor;  and  in  1832  the  Rev. 
Henry  J.  Smith  received  the  call  as  assistant  professor, 
in  which  capacity  the  Rev.  gentleman  wras  active  un- 
til the  autumn  of  1835. 

During  the  session  of  Synod  in  1835  the  following 
report  was  made  by  the  Synodical  committee  on  Hart- 
wick  Seminary.*  "  The  Rev.  Charles  Ji.  Smith  from 
the  committee  on  Hartwick  Synod  presented  the  follow- 
ing report:  " 

"Your  committee  report,  that  a  majority  of  their 
number  were  present  at  the  last  annual  examination 
of  the  students  of  Hartwick  Seminary  and  meeting  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees.  The  examination  afforded 
plain  evidences  of  industry  and  application  on  the 
part  of  the  students,  and  the  utmost  attention  to  their 
advancement  in  the  various  branches  of  study  on  the 
part  of  the  Professors  of  the  institution. 

The  average  number  of  students  during  the  past  year 

*  Extracts  from  the  minutes  1835. 

15 


166  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

has  been  forty.  Theological,  three,  Preparandi,ybw- 
teen  ;  the  last  term."  At  the  session  of  1839  the  Rev. 
William  D.  Strobel,  member  and  chairman  of  the  Syn- 
odical  committee  on  Hartwick  Seminary,*  reported  as 
follows:  "Your  committee  were  present  at  the  late 
examination  of  this  institution,  and  have  but  little  to 
add  to  what  they  have  said  on  former  occasions,  rela- 
tive to  the  indefatigable  labors  of  Dr.  Miller,  and  on 
the  course  of  instructions  pursued.  The  institution  will 
be  closed  the  present  year,  for  the  purpose  of  repairing 
and  enlarging  the  buildings ,  and  we  hope  to  see  it  put 
on  such  a  footing,  as  will  gratify  the  best  wishes  of  all 
its  friends  and  greatly  enlarge  its  sphere  of  usefulness 
to  the  church"  In  the  course  of  the  following  year 
Rev.  Mr.  William  Strobel  received  and  accepted  the 
call  as  Professor  of  Theology  of  Hartwick  Seminary, 
in  the  place  of  Dr.  Miller  who  had  resigned.  Since 
that  time  we  have  seen  an  account  in  the  Ob  server,  of 
the  flourishing  condition  of  that  institution  under  the 
direction  of  its  new  Principal. 

But  not  only  have  the  ministers  and  the  people  con- 
nected with  the  Synod  of  New  York  during  this  whole 
period,  evinced  an  ardent  desire  to  promote  the  best 
interests  of  an  institution,  from  which  alone  a  constant 
supply  of  ministers  for  the  increasing  wants  of  newly 
formed  congregations  could  be  expected,  they  have 
also  been  zealously  engaged  in  Missionary  exertions  to 
collect  the  scattered  flocks,  to  organize  them  by  the 
election  and  instalment  of  church  officers,  and  to  preach 
among  them,  until  they  could  be  supplied  with  pastors. 
*  Extract  from  the  minutes  1839. 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  167 

This  will  appear  from  an  extract  of  the  report  of  the 
Synodical  committee  on  Missions  and  vacant  congre- 
gations of  the  year  1826.  "Soon  after  adjournment 
of  Synod  1825,  the  committee  engaged  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Jacob  Scnderling  as  a  Missionary  to  visit  some  of  our 
vacant  churches  in  the  West.  Another  brother  trav- 
elled as  Missionary  to  our  destitute  friends  in  Canada. 
On  his  return  he  reported  to  the  committee,  that  many 
families,  belonging  to  our  church,  reside  in  the  British 
Province,  and  are  very  desirous  of  being  supplied  with 
the  blessings  of  the  gospel." 

The  same  brother  on  another  occasion  visited  the 
western  part  of  the  State  and  Canada  again.  Rev. 
Mr.  Wieting  one  of  the  former  students  of  the  Semi- 
nary had  taken  charge  of  a  newly  formed  congregation 
near  Lowville,  Lewis  county;  and  attended  also  to 
the  people  in  Le  Ray,  Jefferson  county,  among  whom 
he  had  organized  a  church.  Another  brother  from  the 
Seminary,  the  Rev.  Mr.  F.  G.  Gunther  was  adminis- 
tering the  word  of  life  to  two  Canadian  congregations, 
the  one  in  Ernesttown,  the  other  in  Fredericksburg ; 
who  were  not  only  making  every  exertion  in  their 
power  to  render  the  situation  of  their  minister  comfort- 
able, but  he  assured  the  missionary  also,  of  having 
cause  to  believe  that  his  services  are  not  vain  in  the 
Lord.  In  Sidney,  at  Mohawk  Bay,  and  seven  miles 
North  East  of  that  Bay,  reside  many  families  belong- 
ing to  our  church,  whom  Mr.  Guenther  was  occasion- 
ally visiting.  At  Williamsburg,  Dundas  county,  and 
in  the  town  of  Osnaburg  the  Rev.  Herman  Hayunga 
was  successfully  engaged  in  the  labors  of  the  ministry  ; 


168          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

more  than  one  hundred  persons  having  given  in  their 
names  to  be  received  as  members  of  the  church.  The 
people  in  the  fourth  concession  were  building  a  new 
church.  At  Williamsburg  the  Lutheran  church  had 
been  deprived  of  their  church  and  parsonage  by  the 
treachery  of  a  Mr.  Wiegand,  who  formerly  had  been 
the  minister  of  this  congregation,  but  who  under  pre- 
tence of  having  the  Elders  sign  a  petition  to  the  Cana- 
dian Parliament,  for  assistance,  had  obtained  their  sig- 
nature to  a  declaration,  whereby  the  Elders,  congre- 
gation and  minister  gave  in  their  adhesion  to  the 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  fact  the  congregation  only 
bee  ame  apprised,  when  they  saw  their  minister  enter 
in  the  costume  of  the  priests  of  the  church  of  England. 
The  larger  portion  of  the  church  seceded,  and  decla- 
red, that  they  had  signed  a  petition,  without  inquiring 
into  its  contents  farther  than  what  had  been  stated  by 
their  minister^  and  as  these  were  differing  from  the 
statement  given  them,  they  refused  assent  to  the  peti- 
tion. But  land,  church  and  parsonage  were  gone, 
and  in  possession  of  Wiegand ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hayun- 
ga  had,  since  his  arrival  in  the  province,  several  con- 
ferences with  the  Bishop  of  Quebec  on  that  subject, 
and  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  the  church 
and  glebe  have  been  restored  to  the  congregation. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Lawyer ,  who  had  originally  devoted 
himself  to  the  study  of  the  law,  and  being  not  only  a 
successful  practitioner,  but  enjoying  also  the  office  of 
clerk  of  the  county  of  Schoharie,  had  freely  given  up 
his  temporal  prospects  for  the  sake  of  the  gospel,  and 
had  attended  the  Theological  instruction  of  the  Rev. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          169 

Mr.  Lintner,  pastor  of  the  Schoharie  congregation.  In 
1826  Rev.  Mr.  Lawyer,  after  being  licensed  by  Syn- 
od, accepted  a  call  from  the  churches  ofMinden,  Stone- 
Arabia  and  Palatine.  Difficulties  of  a  serious  nature 
attended  the  entrance  of  our  brother  into  his  ministe- 
rial duties.  In  Minden  an  impostor  had  created  dis- 
turbances  among  the  people.  In  Palatine  the  congre- 
gation had  been  so  long  without  the  advantages  of  a 
stated  ministry,  that  many  felt  indifferent,  and  mani- 
fested no  interest  in  the  concerns  of  the  church.  In 
Stone-Arabia,  about  the  time  and  since  the  resignation 
of  their  former  Pastor,  difficulties  of  another  nature 
existed,  which  rendered  the  situation  of  his  successor 
at  first  unpleasant.  The  Rev.  gentleman  expresses 
himself  in  regard  to  the  state  of  his  churches  in  a  let- 
ter to  a  friend  as  follows  :  "I  have  located  myself  in 
the  congregation  of  Stone- Arabia,  which  is  distracted 
and  divided.  I  found  the  church  without  order  and 
regularity.  How  can  I  describe  the  burden,  under 
which  I  am  obliged  to  struggle,  while  laboring  in  this 
vineyard,  enduring  the  complaints  of  my  friends,  lis- 
tening to  their  tales  of  trouble,  and  at  the  same  time 
inquiring  into  their  difficulties,  in  order  to  give  them 
instruction  and  advice.  But  why  should  I  complain  ? 
God  has  sent  me  here  to  take  care  of  the  spiritual  con- 
cerns of  this  destitute  and  distracted  part  of  his  church, 
and  I  console  myself,  that  he  will  enable  me  amidst 
all  difficulties  to  perform  his  work.  Palatine  congre- 
gation is  improving,  and  much  engaged.  The  church 
is  now  in  external  order.  On  the  4th  of  April  they 
met,  chose  Trustees,  Elders  and  Deacons,  and  incor- 
15* 


170  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

porated  themselves.  Yesterday  I  installed  the  Elders 
and  Deacons,  which  had  a  very  happy  effect  upon  the 
church.  With  the  Minden  congregation  you  are  not 
unacquainted.  I  think  the  time  is  not  far  distant, 
when  this  church  will  be  completely  united.  My  field 
is  large,  and  three  flocks  of  wandering  sheep  roaming 
over  it,  makes  my  duty  as  a  shepherd  extremely  diffi- 
cult and  burdensome."  In  our  old  churches  of  this 
state  a  new  spiritual  light  seemed  likewise  to  shine  in- 
to the  hearts  of  the  people  through  the  instrumentality 
of  the  servants  of  Jesus,  who  administered  unto  them 
the  word  of  life.  In  1826  a  Sunday  School  was  es- 
tablished in  Cobleskill  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Lintner,  which  in  1829  counted  more  than 
80  scholars.  The  teachers  were  chiefly  selected  from 
the  church  officers,  and  the  schools  were  kept  on  those 
Sundays,  when  the  Pastor  preached  in  the  town  of 
Schoharie.  Scholars,  having  not  the  means  of  procu- 
ring the  necessary  books,  were  furnished  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  congregation.  Brother  Lintner  in  speak- 
ing concerning  the  blessed  effects  of  this  measure  says 
in  1829:  "This  school  has  already  awakened  in  the 
whole  congregation  a  more  general  interest  in  the  re- 
ligious instruction  of  our  youths.  Many  parents,  who 
formerly  manifested  but  little  interest  in  the  salvation 
of  their  children,  now  seem  to  be  awakened  to  a  sense 
of  their  duty,  and  \vith  them  to  share  in  the  benefits  of 
the  school;  and  children  who  formerly  spent  the  Lord's 
day  in  habits  of  idleness  and  dissipation,  may  now  be 
seen  collecting  in  the  house  of  God,  and  mingling  in 
the  devotions  of  the  Sanctuary."  In  the  city  of  New 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          171 

York,  where  difficulties  of  a  serious  nature  had  exis- 
ted for  some  years,  between  the  congregations  of 
Christ-church  and  of  St.  Matthews,  affairs  brightened 
in  1827.  St.  Matthew's  church  having  been  purcha- 
sed by  the  German  Lutheran  congregation,*  the  Rev. 
Frederick  C.  Schaeffer  accepted  of  and  entered  upon 
a  call  from  a  Lutheran  congregation  worshipping  in 
New  Jerusalem  chapel,  New  York.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year  a  Christian  friend  and  benefactor,  who  wished 
to  remain  unknown,  had  granted  to  that  congregation 
a  place  of  worship,  situated  in  Orange  street,  which  he 
had  purchased  for  $  10,000,  of  which  the  church  under 
the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schaeffer  took  possession  in 
the  month  of  May.  Rev.  Dr.  Quitman  having  found  that 
the  infirmities  of  age  would  not  permit  him  any  longer 
to  officiate  to  both  the  congregations  of  his  charge,  re- 
linquished that  of  Wurtemberg,  into  which  the  Rev. 
W.  J.  Eyer,  who  had  pursued  Theological  studies  un- 
der the  direction  of  Dr.  Frederick  W.  Geissenhainer, 
New  York  city,  was  inducted  as  pastor,  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Augustus  Wackerhagen,  President  of  the  Synod. 
The  same  brother  also  inducted  during  the  same  year 
Rev.  Mr.  Jacob  Berger  into  his  place  and  church  at 
Ghent,  Columbia  county.  The  Rev.  President  says 
in  his  Synodical  report  respecting  the  induction  of  Mr. 
Berger,  that,  "  though  it  was  on  a  week  day,  the  spa- 
cious church  was  crowded  to  overflowing,  120  com- 
municants appeared  at  the  Lord's  table,  and  several^ 
confirmations  and  Baptisms  took  place  at  the  same 
time,"  The  Rev.  Frederick  Geissenhainer,  son  of 
*  See  the  President's  Synodical  report  for  1827. 


172  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

the  Doctor,  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the 
congregation  of  St.  Matthews  in  the  same  year.  In 
speaking  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  President  says  in  his 
report:  "In  the  year  past,  events  have  happened  in 
our  portion  of  the  church,  which  command  our  utmost 
gratitude  to  the  wise  and  good  disposer  of  all  human 
events  ;  and  prospects  have  been  opened  to  us  which 
promise  much  for  the  time  to  come,  and  cannot  but 
engage  our  most  serious  attention.  Our  part  of  the 
church  has  increased  in  various  directions;  the  helping 
hand  of  God  has  been  manifest  among  us,  the  harvest 
is, increased  and  the  laborers  have  become  more." — 
And  at  the  close  of  his  report  he  adds:  "You  will 
perceive,  my  brethren,  that  the  countenance  of  our 
God  has  not  been  hid  from  our  part  of  his  church  in 
the  Synodical  year  past.  May  his  smiles  make  our 
hearts  glad,  and  fill  them  with  hope  and  courage,  for 
the  time  to  come  ;  and  may  the  outward  events,  which 
his  wise  providence  permits  to  occur,  teach  us  humil- 
ity and  a  firm  reliance  on  him,  from  whom  our  help 
cometh,  whose  we  are,  and  whom  wre  serve,  through 
his  son  Jesus  Christ  our  head  and  master.  Amen." 
In  the  Western  part  of  the  State  a  conference  of  the 
ministers  there  residing,  was  formed  during  the  year 
1826.  The  principal  objects  of  its  establishment  were 
the  following :  Having  perceived  the  beneficial  results 
of  Synodical  meetings  in  the  churches,  in  whose  midst 
they  had  been  held,  and  aw7are — as  the  majority  of  our 
larger  congregations  was  situated  in  the  Eastern  por- 
tions of  the  State, — that  it  could  not  be  expected,  to 
have  many  sessions  of  Synod  in  the  Western  regions, 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          173 

the  brethren  officiating  to  these  remote  congregations, 
were  desirous  to  afford  a  similar  opportunity  to  their 
people.  Another  object  was,  to  connect  these  con- 
ferences with  protracted  meetings  during  the  sessions, 
and  also,  that  by  so  meeting,  the  clerical  brethren  be- 
coming fully  acquainted  with  each  other's  views  and 
sentiments  on  these  occasions,  might  act  in  full  con- 
cert at  Synodical  meetings.  One  of  the  results  of  their 
conferential  deliberations  was  the  resolution  of  pub- 
lishing a  monthly  periodical,  under  the  title  of  "  The 
Lutheran  Magazine  ;"  which  was  commenced  Febru- 
ary, 1827,  and  continued  with  yearly  increasing  lists 
of  subscription  to  1830 ;  when  the  Brethren,  wishing 
to  support  "  The  Observer,"  a  paper,  intended  to  em- 
brace the  interests  of  the  whole  Lutheran  church,  clo- 
sed the  publication  of  a  monthly  pamphlet,  which  had 
been  established  chiefly  for  the  information  of  the 
Northern  portion  of  our  Zion.  Those  brethren,  who 
met  together  in  those  by-gone  days  for  mutual  edifica- 
tion and  instruction,  will  doubtless  still  bear  in  grate- 
ful recollection  the  blessings  we  and  our  congregations 
received  on  these  occasions ;  and  some  of  us  have  no 
doubt  often  grieved,  that  the  bond  of  Christian  harmo- 
ny and  union,  pervading  our  meetings,  has  since  been 
severed  by  opinions,  which  in  themselves  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  the  kingdom  of  God.  Another  benefi- 
cial result  from  these  conferential  meetings  was,  the 
establishment  of  the  Domestic  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  1827. 
The  Honorable  William  C.  Bouck  was  elected  Presi- 
dent ;  five  Vice-Presidents,  George  Jl.  Lintner,  cor- 


174          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

responding  Secretary,  George  B.  Miller  recording  Sec- 
retary, John  D.  Lawyer  Treasurer,  and  twenty-five 
Directors.  Their  first  annual  meeting  was  held  in 
the  church  in  Canajoharie,  May  5th,  1829.  William 
C.  Bouc/c  in  the  chair.  The  report  of  the  correspon- 
ding Secretary  is  too  lengthy  for  insertion,  but  from  it 
we  learn,  that  during  the  first  year  the  following  Aux- 
iliary societies  were  formed :  Domestic  Missionary  So- 
ciety  of  St  PauPs  church,  Schoharie,  May  1828. — 
Young  Men's  Domestic  Missionary  Society  of  Hartwick 
Seminary,  June  1828.  Hartwick  Auxiliary  Mission- 
ary  Society,  June  1828.  Domestic  Missionary  Society 
of  Zionjs  church,  German  Valley,  Morris  county,  Neiv 
Jersey,  June  1828.  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society 
of  Stone- Arabia,  July  1828.  Domestic  Auxiliary  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  Ziorfs  Church,  Cobles/dll,  August 
1828.  Missionary  Society  of  St.  James'  church,  JVew 
York  city,  Domestic  Missionary  Society  of  St.  PauPs 
church,  Johnstown,  Montgomery  county,  Dec.  25th, 
1828.  Auxiliary  Missionary  Society  of  Zion's  church, 
New  Germantown,  JY.  J.  The  Missionary  Society  of 
the  united  congregations  of  Sharon,  February  2d,  1829. 
The  report  further  states,  that  the  whole  amount  of 
receipts  from  Missionary  Auxiliary  Societies,  from  do- 
nations and  collections  in  churches  for  Missionary  and 
Education  purposes  was  $  528  32.  At  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  conference  the  most  important  resolution 
adopted  was  the  following :  Resolved,  "  That  the  con- 
ference deems  the  introduction  of  some  general  and 
uniform  mode  of  discipline  into  our  churches  in  this 
State  highly  necessary  and  important,  that  this  subject 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  175 

be  earnestly  recommended  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Synod  of  the  State  of  New  York  at  its  next  annual 
meeting,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  resolution  be  trans- 
mitted by  the  Secretary  of  conference  to  the  Secretary 
of  Synod." 

At  the  session  of  Synod,  in  1829,  the  following 
brethren  were  ordained :  Rev.  C.  B.  Thummel,  and 
Rev.  John  Eisenlord,  formerly  a  student  of  the  Hart- 
wick  Seminary ;  Messrs.  William  A.  Strobel  and  Hen- 
ry J.  Smith  received  license.  Mr.  Charles  A.  Smith 
not  having  attained  the  age,  prescribed  in  the  Synodi- 
cal  constitution  for  licensure,  though  having  passed 
through  a  very  satisfactory  examination  before  Synod, 
was  recommended  to  licensure  as  soon  as  he  shall 
have  attained  the  age  prescribed.  During  this  meet- 
ing of  Synod  the  resolution  of  the  Western  conference 
concerning  the  introduction  of  a  uniform  mode  of 
church  discipline  was  brought  before  Synod,  and  a 
committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  plan  for  that  pur- 
pose with  instructions  to  report  at  the  next  yearly 
meeting.  The  connexion  of  our  Synod  with  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  was  also  agitated,  but  no  definite  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  on  that  subject. 

For  reasons,  which  will  explain  themselves  in  the 
sequel,  we  think  it  necessary,  to  give  in  this  place  a 
brief  statistical  view  of  the  state  of  our  church  con- 
nected with  the  Synod  of  New  York  in  1830. 

The  Synod  consisted  of  28  ministers,  who  served 
37  congregations,  in  which  there  were  about  8000 
communicants.  Fifteen  students  of  Theology  from 
Hartwick  Seminary  had  been  admitted  to  Synod,  and 


176  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

were  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  church,  except  one, 
who  as  bsf jra  obs^r^ed,  had  departed  this  life.  Seven 
young  brethren  were  preparing  for  the  work  of  the 
Lord  in  the  same  institution.  Dr.  Hazelius,  who  had 
been  Principal  of  the  Seminary  since  1815,  received 
and  accepted  a  call  as  Professor  of  church  history  and 
German  literature  in  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in 
Pennsylvania,  a  Seminary  which  had  been  established 
chiefly  by  the  exertions  of  the  three  Synods  of  West 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  North  Carolina. 

In  the  course  of  this  year  a  convention  of  ministers 
and  delegates  from  a  number  of  the  western  congrega- 
tions assembled  at  Schoharie,  to  consider  the  expedi- 
ency of  forming  a  separate  Synod.  The  desire  pre- 
vailing with  many  of  the  brethren  to  form  a  union 
with  the  General  Synod  was  doubtless  one  of  the  cau- 
ses, promoting  the  separation.  The  measure  was  re- 
solved upon  and  executed.  The  Synod  was  to  be 
styled  u  The  Hartwick  Synod  and  Ministerium  of  the 
Evangelical  Luth.  church  in  the  State  of  New  YorJ. 
Rev.  Mr.  Lintner  was  elected  President,  Rev.  John 
D.  Lawyer  Secretary;  and  Rev.  Philip  Wieting  Treas- 
urer, at  the  first  Synodical  meeting  of  that  body,  Sept. 
24th,  1831.  It  consisted  of  6  ordained  clergymen 
and  one  licentiate.  The  Rev.  President  stated  in  his 
report,  that  "  as  the  expediency  of  forming  this  Synod 
had  been  fairly  and  freely  determined  before  the  con- 
vention,* by  which  the  Synod  had  been  organized,  it 

*Had  we  been  able  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  that 
convention,  we  would  have  considered  it  our  duty  as  historian 
to  state  the  causes  from  that  document;  but  we  never  received  a 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  177 

would  not  be  expected  and  could  not  be  deemed  ne- 
cessary, that  he  should  now  speak  of  this  expediency. 
Our  churches,  within  the  bounds  of  this  Synod,  who, 
from  their  location,  and  various  other  considerations 
are  deeply  interested  in  the  decision  of  this  impor- 
tant question,  were  generally  represented  in  that  meet- 
ing. Their  views  and  wishes,  as  it  regarded  their 
own  interests  and  the  general  welfare  of  the  church, 
in  connexion  with  this  subject  were  fully  expressedt>y 
their  representatives,  who  attended  the  convention, 
and  after  a  full  and  deliberate  consideration  of  the 
subject,  it  was  unanimously  resolved,  to  form  this  Syn- 
od. This  result,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn, 
has,  with  a  few  individual  exceptions,  gratified  the 
wishes  of  ministers  and  congregations  within  our 
bounds ;  it  has  given  general  satisfaction  to  the  friends 
of  our  church  in  the  United  States,  and  I  have  no 
doubt,  that  with  the  blessing  of  God,  it  will  be  atten- 
ded with  many  important  advantages  to  the  interests 
of  that  portion  of  our  Zion,  which  is  under  our  imme- 
diate care." 

This  separation  was  unexpected  to  the  brethren  of 
the  Synod  and  Ministerial}  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
They  did  not  deny  the  right  of  the  brethren  of  the 
Hartwick  Synod  to  form  themselves  into  a  new  Synod, 
whenever  these  brethren  might  suppose  it  conducive 
to  the  well-being  of  the  churches  under  their  care,  but 
they  regretted,  that  the  measure  had  not  been  taken 
with  that  kind  and  affectionate  feeling,  which  co-la- 

copy,  and  consequently  can  say  no  more  on  this  interesting  sub- 
ject than  what  the  President's  report  authorises  us  to  say. 
16 


178  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

borers  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  should  always  ex- 
hibit towards  one  another. 

We  do  not  presume  to  judge  in  this  matter,  we  are 
acquainted  with  the  brethren  on  both  sides,  and  we 
have  no  hesitation  to  say,  that  though  this  separation 
might  have  been  conducted  with  a  greater  degree  of 
courtesy  on  either  side,  yet  we  are  persuaded,  that  in 
the  midst  of  human  failings,  the  members  of  both  Syn- 
ods intended  to  do  nothing,  which  might  bring  reproach 
on  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  Lutheran  church.  Time 
has  shown  this  in  a  remarkable  manner.  Old  com- 
plaints have  been  forgotten,  the  spirit  of  amity  and 
brotherly  love  has  chased  away  the  dark  clouds  of 
mutual  suspicion ;  the  most  friendly  intercourse  sub- 
sists between  the  members  of  the  Synods,  and  if  there 
is  any  strife  between  the  two  bodies,  it  is  the  desire  to 
keep  pace  with  each  other  in  the  advancement  of  the 
interests  of  the  kingdom  of  God  among  men.  Suc- 
cess has  attended  both  bodies ;  previous  to  the  sepa- 
ration, the  statistical*  table  of  1829  gives  us  28  min- 
isters in  the  field,  the  statistical  notices  from  the  res- 
pective minutes  of  1840  give  us  48  ministers  in  both 
Synods,  a  considerable  number  of  newly  organised 
congregations,  provided  with  Pastors,  many  of  the 
old  churches  revived  and  greatly  increased,  Missiona- 
ry operations  supported  by  both  bodies,  the  Temper- 
ance cause  flourishing,  the  desire  to  promote  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Hartwick  Seminary  equally  conspicuous  in 
both ;  and  what  is  more  than  all,  the  operations  of  both 

*Statistics  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  United  States  as  con- 
tained in  Vol.  3d.  of  Lutheran  Magazine. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.         179 

Synods  are  carried  on  in  the  bonds  of  mutual  love  and 
harmony.  The  congregation  under  the  charge  of  Dr. 
Philip  F.  Mayer  in  Philadelphia,  a  brother  in  connec- 
tion with  the  New  York  Synod,  has  contributed  in  one 
year  (1839)  the  sum  of  $1339,  in  aid  of  Missions, 
both  foreign  and  domestic,  in  aid  of  Bible  and  Tract 
societies,  Sunday  schools  and  in  contributions  for  the 
building  of  churches.  A  missionary  and  education 
committee  appointed  by  the  Synod  of  New  York  is 
actively  engaged  in  supplying  vacant  churches  with 
ministers,  and  has  entered  into  correspondence  with 
societies  in  Germany,  whose  object  is,  to  supply  the 
German  population  in  the  United  States  with  ministers, 
by  whom  several  brethren  educated  in  Missionary  in- 
stitutions of  Germany,  have  been  sent  over,  who  are 
now  laboring  in  congregations  formed  by  their  active 
zeal  and  the  co-operation  of  said  committee.  In  the 
Hartwick  Synod  we  have  likewise  an  active  domestic 
Missionary  committee  ;  another  on  Foreign  missions, 
who  is  ready  to  co-operate  with  the  Parent  Society, 
and  have  considerable  funds  in  hand  for  the  support  of 
that  sacred  cause.  The  Synodical  minutes  of  that  body 
also  inform  us  of  the  pleasing  fact,  that  two  young 
men  connected  with  the  Synod  are  preparing  for  the 
foreign  Missionary  field. 

June  26th,  1832,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Quitman  departed  in 
the  72d  year  of  his  life.  w  Since  the  year  1795,  he  had 
been  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  church,  and  as  an 
active  member  of  the  ministerium  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  whose  President  he  was  for  a  long  succession 
of  years,  The  following  Biographical  notices  of  his 


180          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

useful  life  we  take  from  the  Lutheran  Observer :  * — 
"  Frederick  Henry  Quitman  was  born  August  7,  1760, 
in  the  Duchy  of  Cleves  in  Westphalia.  Manifesting 
at  an  early  age  superior  talents  and  application  to  stu- 
dy, he  was  placed  by  his  father,  who  held  a  consider- 
able office  under  the  Prussian  government,  in  the  cel- 
ebrated school  of  Halle,  and  thence  transferred  to  the 
university  of  the  same  city.  Under  the  guidance  of 
Knapp,  Noeselt,  Niemyer,  Semler  and  other  eminent 
professors  in  that  distinguished  seat  of  learning,  he 
made  a  rapid  progress  in  the  various  branches  of  The- 
ology, to  which  he  had  devoted  himself,  notwithstand- 
ing the  opposition  of  his  nearest  relations.  After  com- 
pleting his  Academic  course  with  honor,  and  spend- 
ing two  years  as  private  instructor  in  the  family  of  the 
prince  of  Waldeck ;  he  became  connected  with  the 
Lutheran  consistory  of  the  United  Provinces  of  Hol- 
land and  was  ordained  by  that  body  pastor  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation  in  the  island  of  Curacoa  in  the 
West  Indies.  In  this  situation  he  remained,  useful, 
respected  and  happy,  till  the  summer  of  1795,  when 
political  convulsions  induced  him  to  convey  his  wife 
to  New  York,  with  the  intention  of  returning  thence 
to  Holland.  But  an  overruling  Providence  frustrated 
this  design,  and  opened  to  him  a  far  more  extensive 
field  of  action  in  our  own  land  ;  first  in  the  associated 
churches  of  Schoharie  and  Cobleskill,  and  afterwards 
in  those  of  Rhinebeck,  Wurtemberg,  Germantown  and 
Livingston.  In  1815,  he  relinquished  the  charge  of 
the  last  two  of  these  churches,  having  prevailed  upon 
*  Lutheran  Observer,  October  15,  1832. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          181 

them  to  call  a  minister  for  themselves ;  and  in  1824, 
that  of  the  church  of  Wurtemberg,  in  consequence  of 
increasing  infirmities.  Four  years  subsequently  he 
was  compelled  by  the  same  cause,  to  the  deep  regret 
of  his  parishioners,  to  retire  from  all  public  labor. — 
Growing  weakness  and  disease  confined  him  to  his 
chamber  until  the  26th  of  June  last,  when  it  pleased 
the  Parent  of  mercies  to  release  him  by  the  hand  of 
death  from  the  sorrows  and  troubles  of  this  changeful 
world.  He  was  twice  married,  and  has  left  behind 
three  daughters  and  four  sons/' 

"After  the  decease  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Kuntze,  Rev. 
Mr.  Quitman  was  raised  to  the  Presidency  of  the  Evan- 
gelical nrinisterium  of  the  State  of  N.  Y.;  to  which,  from 
one  term  of  office  to  another,  he  was  unanimously  re- 
elected,  until  in  1825  he  declined  the  appointment  from 
inability  to  travel.  In  1811  he  received  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  university  of  Harvard. 
He  continued  at  the  head  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Hartwick  Seminary  through  the  partiality  of  his  col- 
leagues, so  long  as  the  condition  of  his  health  permit- 
ted him  to  attend  their  meetings." 

"The  subject  of  this  brief  memoir  possessed  in  a  frame 
of  uncommon  vigor,  a  mind  of  extraordinary  powers. 
Gifted  with  an  astonishing  memory,  an  acute  judg- 
ment and  untiring  industry,  he  gathered  for  himself 
and  others,  large  stores  of  general  knowledge,  and  es- 
pecially of  Theological  science.  As  a  preacher  he 
was  universally  confessed  to  be  mighty  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, convincing,  eloquent,  pathetic ;  and  as  a  cate- 
chist,  few  in  our  country  have  equalled  him.  Besides 
16* 


182  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

the  toilsome  functions  of  a  pastor,  he  assumed  those  of 
a  teacher  of  sacred  and  classical  literature,  and  was 
rarely  without  students  in  one  or  the  other  of  these  de- 
partments. Long  before  missionary  efforts  were  em- 
ployed by  our  communion  in  the  State  of  New  York,  he 
was  accustomed  to  pay  an  annual  visit  to  destitute  set- 
tlements and  new  societies,  daily  dispensing  the  word 
of  salvation,  and  administering  the  ordinances  of  the 
gospel,  through  a  circuit  from  one  to  two  hundred 
miles.  His  dwelling  was  the  abode  of  hospitality,  and 
his  conversation,  independently  of  the  information  it 
yielded,  wras  marked  by  pleasantry,  good  humor  and 
very  unusual  variety  of  topic  and  illustration.  One  of 
the  most  striking  traits  of  his  character  was  frankness, 
that  abhorred  all  concealment  and  artifice.  Although 
constitutionally  ardent,  and  occasionally  betrayed  into 
vehemence  by  collision  with  minds  of  similar  ardor, 
he  cherished  no  feeling  of  ill-will  toward  any,  and 
gladly  acknowledged  merit,  wherever  he  discerned  it. 
The  fear  of  man  or  the  fear  of  consequences  never 
drove  him  from  a  purpose,  formed  under  the  convic- 
tion of  duty.  And  \vhilst  liberal  in  his  principles,  and 
most  heartily  opposed  to  schemes  that  seem  to  favor 
the  imposition  of  a  yoke  upon  the  brethren,  he  was 
nevertheless  equally  averse  from  controversy,  and  from 
all  tendencies  to  lawlessness  and  confusion.  His 
grand  aim  in  the  sacred  desk,  was  the  inculcation  of 
the  plain,  but  practical  and  mighty  truths  and  lessons 
of  the  religion  of  a  crucified  and  exalted  Redeemer." 
4 'What  amount  of  good  resulted  from  the  services  of 
our  departed  friend,  cannot  now  be  fully  known,  and 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  183 

will  be  disclosed  in  the  final  issue  of  human  affairs. — 
His  example  of  indefatigable  diligence,  whilst  enabled 
to  work  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  is  well  adapied 
to  stimulate  those,  who  have  succeeded  him  in  the 
same  momentous  vocation.  And  the  last  years  of  his 
life,  though  cheered  by  domestic  affection  and  Chris- 
tian hope,  present  an  instance,  calculated  to  inspire 
habitual  humility  and  prayerful  dependence  on  God, 
of  the  feebleness  and  imbecility,  to  which,  in  his  un- 
searchable wisdom,  many  of  the  most  richly  endowed 
among  his  children  are  suffered  to  be  cast  down." 

In  1837  our  brethren  of  the  Hartwick  Synod  had  to 
deplore  the  separation  of  a  number  of  members  and 
churches  from  their  ranks  and  connexion.  The  breth- 
ren, John  D.  Lawyer,  Philip  Wieting,  William  Oil- 
man, Lambert  Schwac/chammer,  ordained  members, 
Nicholas  Van  Mstine,  Benjamin  Dizfendorf,  David 
Oilman,  Daniel  Ji.  Payne,  Jesse  S.  Robinson,  Henry 
L.  Dox,  licentiates,  and  James  Schulz,  and  Suffer  anas 
Ottman,  styled  preachers,*  formed  themselves  into  a 
new  Synod  denominated  "  The  Frankean  Synod  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church" 

The  reasons  which  these  Brethren  assign  for  separa- 
tion and  for  forming  a  new  Synod  are  stated  by  their 
president  in  his  address  to  Synod  to  be  the  following: 

1.     To  license  pious,  intelligent  men,  sound  in  the 

*  Preachers,  we  suppose  is  another  name  for  what  in  some  of 
the  other  Synods  are  called  "  Catechets;"  and  in  our  South  Car- 
olina Synod  :  Licensed  Students  of  Divinity,  at  least  we  under- 
stand the  Rev.  Mr.  Lawyer  to  give  this  explanation  of  the  word 
in  his  address  to  the  Frankean  Synod,  at  their  special  meeting  at 
Richmondville,  Schoharie  county,  October  5th,  1837. 


184          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

faith,  though  they  may  not  be  classically   educated,  or 
have  pursued  a  regular  Theological  course. 

The  evidence  which  has  presented  itself  to  our  view, 
and  that  the  only  one,  of  any  measure  taken  by  the 
Hartwick  Synod,  approaching  to  something  like  a  de- 
sire of  receiving  only  classically  educated  men  and  such 
as  have  pursued  a  regular  course  of  TJieology,  we  find 
in  the  rules  of  the  Missionary  and  Education  Society 
adopted  by  Synod  in  September,  1833,  where  we  read 
in  the  8th  resolution  concerning  the  Education  fund, 
as  follows  :  That  "  before  any  student  can  receive  aid 
from  this  fund,  he  shall  obligate  himself  to  pursue  a 
regular  and  full  course  of  studies  in  some  college  and 
Theological  Seminary,  which  this  Synod  may  approve; 
and  that  he  shall  not  be  permitted  to  vary  from  such  a 
course  as  long  as  he  is  under  the  patronage  of  this  Syn- 
od" The  reader  may  infer  from  the  above,  whether 
the  resolution  excludes  men  not  so  educated  from  Syn- 
od, the  more  so,  as  several  actual  members  of  the 
Hartwick  Synod,  had  not  pursued  the  course  prescri- 
bed for  future  students  of  Divinity,  under  the  patron- 
age of  Synod  and  continue  to  be  members  of  Synod. 
2.  To  license  or  admit  none  into  the  ministry  who 
are  unacquainted  with  experimental  religion. 

As  in  the  first  paragraph,  the  Rev.  President  stated, 
that  the  new  Synod  will  license  pious,  intelligent  men, 
sound  in  the  faith,  and  in  the  second,  that  the  Synod 
will  not  license  or  admit  into  the  ministry,  any  who  are 
not  acquainted  with  experimental  religion,  it  must  be 
inferred  that  persons  acquainted  with  experimental  reli- 
gion are  the  same  characters  which  in  the  former  par- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          185 

agraph  had  been  styled  pious,  intelligent  men,  sound  in 
the  faith;  and  we  are  sure  that  no  Lutheran  Synod 
would  license  or  admit  men  of  an  opposite  character 
into  the  church.  The  difficulty  consists  in  obtaining  a 
full  knowledge  of  the  fact. 

3.  To  license  applicants  in  the  recess  of  Synod. 

Whether  the  constitution  of  the  Hartwick  Synod  pro- 
hibited such  licensure  or  not,  we  cannot  tell ;  but  the 
brethren  of  the  new  Franckean  Synod  had  aided  in 
forming  that  constitution,  did  they  secede  from  Hart- 
wick  Synod,  because  its  constitution  contained  a  clause 
to  which  they  had  given  their  free  consent  ? 

4.  Not  to  admit  unconverted  persons  as  members  of 
the,  church. 

We  believe,  if  the  members  of  the  Franckean  Syn- 
od can  give  us  that  infallible  criterion,  by  which  they 
will  in  every  case  of  admission  to  church  membership 
distinguish  the  converted  from  the  unconverted  man, 
unless  it  is  his  conduct  and  whole  conversation  in  life, 
which  however  requires  a  great  length  of  time  and  an 
intimate  acquaintance,  for  decision,  the  Synods  of  the 
Lutheran  church  will  thankfully  receive  that  informa- 
tion. For  we  do  not  believe  that  one  Synod  in  our 
American  church  would  wilfully  admit  unconverted 
persons  to  church  membership.  But  there  is  another 
view  of  the  subject  to  be  taken.  We  admit  with  the 
whole  Protestant  church,  that  a  distinction  ought  to 
be  made  between  the  visible  and  the  invisible  church 
of  God.  The  latter  consists  of  Saints,  i.  e.  of  the  true 
worshippers  of  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth  of  every  de- 
nomination ;  the  former  has  tares  growing  among  the 


186          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

wheat.  Innumerable  attempts  have  been  made  in  the 
Christian  church  ever  since  the  second  century,  to  es- 
tablish a  visible  church  of  Saints ;  but  church  history 
informs  us  also,  that  all  these  attempts  have  failed. — 
Let  us  do  all  we  can,  that  no  shame  may  be  brought 
on  the  name  of  Christ,  through  inconsistent  professors 
of  religion,  and  that  is  all  we  can  do,  and  what  the 
Hartwick  Brethren  have  assuredly  always  attempted  to 
do. 

5.  To  restore  to  tlie  churches  the  ancient  form  of 
government  and  discipline  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

The  Rev.  President  of  the  Franckean  Synod  ap- 
pears to  mean  by  the  given  statement,  that  it  is  the  ob- 
ject of  the  members  of  that  Synod,  to  restore  to  the 
Lutheran  church  the  congregational  form  of  govern- 
ment and  discipline.  So  far  as  we  know,  and  in  as  far 
as  the  Rev.  President  explains  his  views  on  tkat  sub- 
ject,in  his  address,  a  large  ^proportion  of  the  Lutheran 
church  will  go  with  him,  and  we  further  believe,  that 
the  brethren,  who  make  frequent  use  of  the  hard  word 
"  Judicatory,"  mean  very  little  else  by  that  term, 
than  what  others  with  the  Rev.  President  denominate 
the  ancient  form  of  government  and  discipline  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

These  five  points  are  given  by  the  seceding  breth- 
ren as  the  grounds  of  separation!  We  think  the  breth- 
ren ot  the  Hartwick  Synod  would  readily  have  come 
to  a  satisfactory  understanding  on  them  all,  if  it  had 
been  desired.  But  the  Rev.  President  charges  the 
Hartwick  brethren  on  his  part  writh  holding  the  Augs- 
burg confession  as  the  standard  of  the  church.  In 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  187 

how  far  this  in  the  case,  the  reader  may  discover  from 
the  following  question,  which  according  to  the  consti- 
tution of  that  body  is  laid  before  the  candidate  for  li- 
censure  :  "Do  you  believe  that  the  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  the  Bible,  are  taught  in  a  manner,  substantial- 
ly correct,  in  the  doctrinal  Articles  of  the  Augsburg 
confession  ?" 

This  Synod  has  since  its  formation  greatly  enlarged 
its  borders,  and  the  number  of  its  ministers.  In  as  far 
as  they  are  instrumental  in  spreading  the  gospel  of 
salvation,  we  bid  them  "  God's  speed,"  but  earnestly 
pray,  that  they  may  cease  to  think,  that  the  kingdom 
of  Christ  is  promoted  through  strife  and  condemnato- 
ry declarations  against  professors  of  religion,  whose 
sentiments  do  not  exactly  square  with  those  which  they 
themselves  entertain. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1838,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick 
W.  Geissenhainer,  pastor  of  the  United  German  Lu- 
theran churches  of  the  city  of  New  York,  departed 
this  life,  aged  66  years  and  11  months.  The  Rev. 
President  of  the  Synod  of  New  York,  Rev.  Dr.  Waker- 
hagen,  gives  the  following  notice  of  the  clerical  activ- 
ity of  this  brother:  "From  the  year  1808,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  eight  years,  intervening  between  1814  and 
1822  he  had  been  the  religious  teacher  and  counsellor 
of  the  United  Lutheran  congregations  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  His  deep  and  extensive  learning,  his 
great  urbanity,  and  various  other  merits,  cannot  but 
cause  his  memory  to  be  cherished  by  all  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  his  character  and  worth." 

The  church  in  the  State  of  New  York  suffered  ano- 


188  .AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

ther  loss  in  the  departure  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Berger, 
minister  of  the  congregation  at  Ghent,  Melville  and 
Churchtown,  Columbia  county,  State  of  New  York. — 
He  departed  March  llth,  1842,  aged  44  years.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Union  College,  and  had  studied 
Theology  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Hartwick. 
In  his  obituary  notice  the  following  remarks  are  made 
respecting  this  brother,  in  the  Lutheran  Observer  : — 
"Endowed  with  talents  of  a  high  order,  and  possessing 
a  mind  well  cultivated,  he  consecrated  them  to  the 
service  of  the  Lord.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  in  1825.  He  commenced  his  ministry  in  Ghent, 
where  the  Lord  owned  and  blessed  his  labors.  Soon 
afterwards  he  preached  in  Valatie,  where  he  through  the 
smiles  of  God  gathered  an  interesting  congregation, 
which  has  been  for  several  years  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Rev.  Reuben  Dederick.  While  attend- 
ing to  the  spiritual  wants  of  both  these  congregations, 
he  also  assisted  the  venerable  Rev.  Uhl,  in  Church- 
town.  Here  his  labors  have  been  crowned  with  emi- 
nent success.  Large  numbers  have  from  time  to  time 
been  added  to  the  church.  While  there  attending,  a 
few  weeks  ago,  a  series  of  meetings,  designed  for  the 
spiritual  good  of  that  people,  assisted  by  several  of 
his  ministerial  brethren,  an  afflicting  disease  attacked 
him,  which  was  followed  by  the  typhus  fever,  which 
soon  terminated  his  usef"!  and  eventful  life. 

He  has  fallen,  a  soldier  of  the  cross,  in  the  front  of 
the  battle  of  fhe  Lord  of  hosts.  In  His  cause  he  had 
enlisted,- — to  Him,  he  had  devoted  his  strength — his 
time — his  talents — his  all.  He  could  not  have  fallen 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  189 

in  a  holier  cause.  He  labored  as  one,  who  must  give 
an  account  of  his  stewardship.  Souls  were  his  charge, 
to  train  them  for  heaven  occupied  his  attention  by  day 
and  his  prayers  by  night. — His  work  is  finished, — his 
toils  are  over, — his  warfare  accomplished, — his  reward 
is  on  high. 

He  has  left  a  wife  and  three  lovely  children  to  de- 
plore his  departure.  In  accordance  with  his  request, 
his  remains  were  deposited  in  the  grave-yard  at 
Churchtown,  last  Lord's  day,  March  13th,  accompa- 
nied by  hundreds  of  those,  who  had  for  years  listened 
to  his  eloquent  and  heart-stirring  sermons  and  appeals. 
Though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh,  by  the  fruits  of  his  pi- 
ous labors  in  the  vineyard  of  his  master.  His  memory 
will  be  cherished — his  grave  will  be  bedewed  by  the 
tears  of  his  affectionate  family  and  relatives,  by  his 
parishioners  and  ministerial  brethren. 

THE  SYNOD  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

One  of  the  most  important  subjects,  under  conside- 
ration before  this  ancient  and  most  numerous  Synod  of 
the  Lutheran  church  during  its  sessions  of  1820  and 
1821,  was  the  formation  of  the  General  Synod.  Its 
delegation  to  the  convention,  that  was  to  decide  on 
the  expediency  of  the  measure,  had  voted  in  the  affir- 
mative ;  and  with  their  consent  and  approbation  the 
constitution  had  been  formed.  While  this  subject  was 
still  under  consideration,  the  brethren  in  Maryland 
had  formed  themselves  into  a  separate  Synod,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1820.  To  the  first  meeting  of  the  General  Syn- 
od, delegates  had  been  appointed  by  Pennsylvania. 
17 


190  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

This  meeting  took  place  in  October,  1821,  at  Freder- 
ickstown,  Maryland.  The  Synods  represented,  were, 
the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Synod  of  North  Caro- 
lina and  the  lately  formed  Synod  of  Maryland  and 
Virginia.  But  soon  after  the  session,  agitators,  and 
among  them  several  clergymen,  though  not  of  the  Lu- 
theran denomination,  had  excited  among  the  people 
of  the  Keystone  State  fears  and  jealousies  against  the 
General  Synod,  so  that  the  brethren  connected  with 
the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  believed  it  prudent,  to  with- 
draw from  the  association,  lately  formed. — As  the 
German  population  extended  its  settlements  West- 
ward, the  Pennsylvania  Synod  did  not  forsake  the 
flocks,  over  whom  the  Holy  Ghost  had  placed  them 
overseers ;  with  great  liberality  this  ecclesiastical  body 
provided  the  means,  as  well  as  missionaries,  to  build 
up  churches  in  the  regions  beyond  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  and  in  the  extensive  fields  of  Ohio.  The 
great  distance  of  these  new  congregations  from  those 
parts  of  Pennsylvania,  to  which  the  activity  of  Synod 
had  hitherto  and  principally  been  directed,  made  the 
formation  of  a  new  Synod  in  the  Western  regions  de- 
sirable and  even  necessary.  This  took  place  in  1818. 
The  new  body  assumed  the  title :  The  Evangelical 
Synod  of  Ohio  and  adjacent  States.  Of  its  activity  we 
shall  speak  hereafter ;  at  present  we  have  to  follow  our 
Pennsylvania  brethren  in  their  exertions  to  build  up 
the  kingdom  of  God  within  the  sphere  assigned  them 
by  the  Lord  of  his  vineyard.  The  harvest  was  great 
and  extensive,  but  few,  comparatively  speaking,  were 
the  laborers.  The  whole  Lutheran  church  in  Ameri- 


AMERtCAN    LUTHEKAN    CHURCH.  191 

had  then  but  one  Theological  school,  at  Hartwick  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  that  was  scarcely  able  to 
supply  the  increasing  wants  of  the  Northern  portion  of 
our  church,  and  could  therefore  exercise  no  beneficial 
influence  on  the  middle,  southern  and  western  sections 
of  our  country.  Many  of  the  laborers,  who  had  for 
years  been  engaged  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  had 
been  called  from  their  labor,  and  their  places  had  on- 
ly in  part  been  occupied  by  other  ministers.  The 
names  of  Kuntze,  Graff,  Helmuth,  Schmidt,  Lochman, 
Moeller,  Endress,  Quitman,  Schaeffer  and  many  oth- 
ers, had  been  familiar  to  every  Lutheran  in  bvrgone 
days,  but  these  men  had  descended  from  the  stage  of 
action,  though  they  continue  to  live  in  the  remembrance 
of  all,  who  through  their  instrumentality  have  been 
brought  from  darkness  unto  light  and  to  the  hope  of 
everlasting  life.  But  when  all  those  shall  likewise  have 
departed,  who  now  fill  the  stations  of  their  fathers, 
whence  will  a  skilful  master-builder  derive  materials, 
from  which  monuments  might  be  erected  to  those  also, 
who  shall  succeed  them  in  after  ages,  since  even  now 
a  piece  of  rock  cannot  be  found  sufficiently  large  to  set 
a  simple  tombstone  to  the  memory  of  some  of  those 
good  men,  that  have  long  since  departed. 

Obituary  notices  of  Kuntze,  Graff,  Moeller  and  Quit- 
man have  been  given  ;  we  have  in  some  instances  hin- 
ted at  the  faithfulness,  with  which  the  other  departed 
brethren  in  their  day  labored  in  the  cause  of  God,  but 
we  think  we  owe  to  them  and  to  their  services  in  the 
church  something  more  ;  we  only  regret,  that  materi- 
als are  scarce,  to  do  any  thing  like  justice  to  their 


192          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

memory.  Through  the  kindness  of  a  friend  we  are 
enabled  to  give  a  few  sketches  of  the  life  of  two  dis- 
tinguished members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod,  who 
departed  this  life  during  the  present  period  of  the  his- 
tory of  our  church,  and  who  have  frequently  been  hon- 
ored by  the  choice  of  their  brethren  to  preside  in  the 
councils  of  the  church. 

Justus  Henry  Christian  Helmuth  was  born  at  Helm- 
stedt  in  the  Duchy  of  Brunswick,  Germany,  May  the 
16th,  1745.  He  pursued  Theological  studies  at  the 
university  of  Halle ;  after  the  completion  of  which  he 
received  the  appointment  as  one  of  the  teachers  in  the 
Halle  orphan-house.  In  the  24th  year  of  his  life  he 
received  a  call  to  America.  He  left  his  native  coun- 
try in  the  month  of  February,  1769,  and  arrived  at 
Philadelphia,  April  the  1st.  During  the  first  ten  years 
after  his  arrival  in  America  the  town  of  Lancaster  was 
the  place  of  his  pastoral  activity.  In  1779  he  received 
and  accepted  a  call  as  minister  of  the  German  Luthe- 
ran church  in  Philadelphia,  which  station  he  filled  as 
long  as  bodily  strength  permitted  him.  During  the 
time  of  his  clerical  activity  both  at  Lancaster  and  Phil- 
adelphia, he  enjoyed  the  love  and  respect  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends  in,  as  well  as  out  of  the  congregation, 
whom  he  served.  In  1793,  while  the  yellow  fever  was 
raging  with  uncommon  violence  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, at  a  season,  when  all,  who  had  means  of  esca- 
ping the  all-devouring  pestilence,  left  the  abode  of  ter- 
ror, when  many  ministers  forsook  their  congregations, 
and  when  even  the  bonds  of  blood  were  loosened,  and 
children  fled  from  parents,  husbands  from  wives,  he 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  193 

remained  with  the  flock,  over  which  the  Lord  had  pla- 
ced him  as  shepherd,  willing  to  bring  the  consolations 
of  the  gospel  to  the  sick  and  the  dying  at  the  immi- 
nent risk  of  his  life.  A  few  years  previous  to  his  de- 
parture he  resigned  his  office  and  spent  his  time  in  re- 
tirement, waiting  for  the  coming  of  his  Lord.  He  left 
these  earthly  scenes  of  trial  and  of  sorrow,  February 
5th,  1824.  We  cannot  close  these  short  reminiscen- 
ces of  the  life  of  one  of  the  most  active  ministers  of  our 
church,  without  an  attempt  to  sketch  the  picture  which 
his  successor  in  office,  in  the  funeral  sermon  of  the 
departed  pastor  so  eloquently  drew  of  Helmuth's  ac- 
tivity as  the  minister  of  God  to  man,  when  calling  up- 
on his  former  parishioners  to  keep  him  in  grateful  re- 
membrance, who  for  better  than  40  years  had  dispen- 
sed unto  them  the  word  of  life  : 

"Every  heart  must  acknowledge,  that  a  grateful 
remembrance  is  his  due.  What  teacher,  that  spends 
but  one  single  year  among  a  people,  and  is  faithful 
with  the  talent  God  has  entrusted  to  him,  will  not  gain 
many  a  heart  for  himself?  But  he  has  lived  so  long 
among  you,  that  he  saw  his  family  grow  up  around 
him,  has  labored  among  you  so  long,  that  he  might 
have  said :  "  J  have  labored  more  abundantly  than  they 
all."  (1  Cor.  xv.  10.)  How  immense,  therefore,  is 
the  debt  of  gratitude  you  owe  to  your  teacher!  how 
large  the  number  of  those,  who  by  his  instrumentality 
have  been  enlightened  and  brought  to  the  truth,  who 
have  been  renovated  and  gained  to  virtue,  who  have 
been  comforted  by  him,  and  through  his  instrumental- 
ity have  obtained  peace  with  God,  through  the  word 
17* 


194  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

of  reconciliation  :  how  great  the  number  of  those,  who 
have  to  acknowledge  after  his  departure,  that  they  owe 
him  much,  yea  all,  in  as  much  as  their  hour  for  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  struck  under  his  instruction  !  Ma- 
ny a  soul  will  he  already  have  met  in  the  realms  of 
bliss,  to  whom  he  was  here  the  instrument  in  the  hands 
of  the  Lord  to  obtain  that  happiness,  but  surely  there 
are  still  many  here,  here  in  this  edifice,  who  are  the 
epistle  of  Christ  ministered  by  hi?n,  written  not  with 
ink,  but  with  tlie  Spirit  of  the  living  God:  (2  Cor.  iii. 
3. )  Come  then,  render  to  him  the  sacrifice  of  your 
love,  pay  him  the  last  honor  by  preserving  for  him  a 
grateful  remembrance  in  your  hearts.  And  especially 
ye,  whose  love  is  wont  to  endure,  whom  he  received 
when  infants,  instructed  when  children,  whom  as  young 
men  and  young  women  he  dedicated  to  God  at  his  al- 
tar, and  whose  covenant  of  matrimonial  love  and  faith- 
fulness he  blessed,  ye,  his  small  congregation  within 
the  circle  of  the  more  extensive  one,  ye,  who  have  so 
frequently  celebrated  his  birth-day  with  pious  congrat- 
ulations, celebrate  now  as  often  the  day  of  his  depar- 
ture with  pious  gratitude. 

Jan.  27,  1836,  the  Lord  called  another  one  of  his 
servants  in  our  church  from  a  world  of  sorrow  and 
affliction  to  his  eternal  rest.  It  was  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Frederick  Shaeffer,  Sen. 

He  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born  at  Grunau,  Nov. 
15,  1760.  It  appears  from  the  few  scanty  notices  of 
his  life,  that  could  be  collected,  that  one  of  his  uncles, 
the  General  Superintendent  at  Rodhinie  in  the  king- 
dom of  Wurtemberg,  attended  to  the  instruction  and 


AMERICAN    LUTIIERAiN    CHURCH.  195 

education  of  his  nephew.  By  him  he  was  inducted 
into  the  church  by  confirmation  in  1774,  and  under 
his  direction  he  commenced  the  studies  of  his  profes- 
sion. In  1775,  he  left  Germany  for  the  United  States. 
In  1785  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  con- 
gregation at  Carlisle  in  Pennsylvania,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod.  The  time  of  his 
activity  in  Carlisle  was  brief,  for  in  1790,  he  removed 
to  Germantown  near  Philadelphia  as  Pastor  of  the 
German  Lutheran  congregation.  In  this  station  he 
continued  to  preach  the  doctrine  of  the  cross  for  22 
years.  His  activity  and  zeal  in  the  master's  cause 
will  still  be  remembered  with  gratitude  by  many  mem- 
bers of  his  former  charge,  for  we  can  say  with  truth, 
that  our  brother  not  only  discharged  the  duties  of  his 
pastoral  office  with  faithfulness  and  in  uprightness 
among  his  people,  but  that  it  was  the  desire  of  his 
soul,  his  thought  by  day  and  by  night,  that  he  might 
win  souls  to  Christ.  His  wralk  and  conversation  was 
in  correspondence  with  the  doctrine  he  preached.  In 
1812  he  was  elected  one  of  the  pastors  in  the  German 
Lutheran  Congregation  of  Michael's  arid  Zion's  church 
in  Philadelphia;  here  he  continued  with  the  same 
faithfulness  and  zeal,  which  he  had  exhibited  in  the 
former  circle  of  his  activity,  to  proclaim  the  crucified 
Redeemer  as  the  only  Saviour  of  sinners  for  another 
22  years.  During  the  time  of  his  ministry  in  that 
congregation,  many  and  severe  were  the  trials  through 
which  our  brother  had  to  pass,  but  the  Lord  was  his 
stay  and  support  in  them  all.  In  Oct.  1834,  he  re- 
tired from  his  office  and  spent  the  remaining  days  of 


196          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

life  with  his  eldest  son,  Dr.  David  Frederick  Shaeffer 
jun.,  at  Fredericktown,  Maryland.  In  1835,  he  lost 
the  companion  of  his  life,  who  had  shared  with  him 
for  nearly  50  years  his  sorrows  and  his  joys,  and  had 
presented  him  with  8  children,  some  of  whom  had  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  shores  of  eternity.  He  departed 
this  life  as  above  stated,  Jan.  27,  1836,  at  an  age  of 
75  years  2  months  and  13  days,  as  we  have  reason  to 
believe  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  Christian. 

The  brethren  in  connexion  with  the  Synod  of  Penn- 
sylvania, located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehan- 
nah  river  met  in  Special  conference  at  Greejicastle, 
from  the  6th  to  the  9th  of  Nov.  1824  and  resolved  the 
formation  of  a  new  Synod,  to  be  styled  "the  Synod 
of  West  Pennsylvania,"  further,  that  this  measure  was 
to  be  announced  to  the  brethren,  with  whom  they  had 
hitherto  been  connected,  at  their  next  Synodical  ses- 
sion in  1825;  and  that  they  should  be  requested,  to 
acknowledge  the  newly  formed  body  after  its  organi- 
zation, as  one  of  the  regular  Synods  of  the  American 
Lutheran  church;  and  that  this  organization  should 
take  place  at  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be  held  at  Cham- 
bersburg  on  the  first  Sunday  in  September  1825. 

In  the  circular  of  the  convention,  addressed  to  all 
those  of  the  clerical  brethren  living  on  the  West  side 
of  the  Susquehannah  river,  who  had  been  prevented 
from  attending  the  meeting  at  Greencastle,  the  reasons 
for  the  formation  of  the  new  Synod  are  stated  to  be  the 
following : 

1.  The  distance  and  expense  connected  with  jour- 
neying to  and  from  the  Synodical  meetings  of  the 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          197 

Pennsylvania  Synod.  2.  The  possibility  of  the  meet- 
ingof  as  mailer  body  in  places,  where  one  so  numerous 
as  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  could  not  find  accommo- 
dation, and  that  by  this  means  a  more  general  interest 
in  Synodical  meetings  would  be  excited  among  the 
respective  congregations  and  members.  3.  The  for- 
mation of  the  new  Synod  would  enable  its  members  to 
act  with  more  precision  and  with  a  fuller  knowledge  of 
passing  events  in  the  more  limited  circle  of  their  activ- 
ity, than  could  be  done  in  the  larger  body  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Synod.  4.  Time  would  also  be  afforded  to  the 
members  to  reflect  upon  and  take  into  consideration 
such  measures,  as  the  welfare  of  the  church  and  the 
circumstances  of  the  times  seemed  to  require.  .5  The 
formation  of  the  new  Synod  would  afford  many  oppor- 
tunities for  the  brethren  to  become  acquainted  with 
each  other,  to  draw  closer  the  bond  of  union,  and  to 
gain  more  time  for  mutual  edification  and  instruction. 
6.  This  measure  would  finally  afford  more  frequent  op- 
portunities than  hitherto  had  been  enjoyed,  mutually 
to  watch  over  the  private  and  official  walk  and  con- 
versation of  the  brethren,  and  to  assist  each  other  more 
effectually  in  cases  of  difficulty. 

The  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  gave  its  assent  to  the 
proposed  separation  during  its  session  at  Reading  in 
1825  ;  but  even  after  this  separation  that  venerable  bo- 
dy still  consisted  of  fifty-one  ordained  ministers  and 
candidates.  In  as  much  as  many  reports  injurious  to 
the  cause  of  Christ  had  been  industriously  propagated 
among  the  churches  in  connexion  with  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Synod,  by  men,  hostile  to  the  benevolent  opera- 


198  AMERICAN    LUTHKKAN    CHURCH. 

tions  of  the  present  day  in  the  Christian  church,  the 
Synod  published  in  1829  the  following  declaration  in 
reference  to  this  important  subject,  with  the  view  to 
quiet  the  apprehensions  of  the  people,  as  well  as  to 
promote  the  cause  of  piety  and  religion  :  Resolved  by 
Synod :  "  Evil  reports  are  seldom  suppressed,  but 
generally  and  eagerly  received  and  augmented.  As 
this  is  the  case  in  the  common  concerns  of  life,  so  it  is 
also  in  regard  to  every  thing  that  is  and  ought  to  be 
sacred  to  man  ;  and  the  means  of  promoting  the  cause 
of  religion  have  therefore  likewise  suffered  from  the' 
poisonous  breath  of  calumny.  It  is  a  well  known  fact, 
that  Missionary,  Bible,  and  Tract  Societies  have  been 
formed  in  Germany,  England,  Scotland,  Switzerland  as 
well  as  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  that  these 
societies  have  been  viewed  and  supported  by  thousands 
of  Christians,  as  beneficent  institutions  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  our  religion.  With  deep-felt  grief  however  we 
have  observed,  that  unworthy  and  ignoble  views  and 
intentions  have  been  ascribed  to  these  noble  efforts  to 
strengthen  and  support  the  sacred  cause  of  Christianity; 
and  we  learn  with  regret,  that  calumnies  of  this  kind 
also  have  found  entrance  into  congregations,  in  con- 
nexion with  our  Synod.  Several  of  our  ministers  have 
been  accused  as  being  favorable  to  said  societies,  from 
impure  and  selfish  motives.  But  we  declare  publicly 
and  solemnly  before  the  world,  that  calumnies  of  the 
kind  alluded  to,  have  never  been  propagated  by  any 
individuals  of  our  ecclesiastical  body,  much  less  by 
Synod  itself;  and  this  declaration  we  make  with  the 
view  to  set  at  rest  apprehensions  that  may  exist  on  that 


AMERICAN     LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  199 

subject  in  the  bosom  of  any  member  of  our  commu- 
nion." 

And  not  only  did  the  members  of  this  Synod  express 
their  approval  of  these  efforts  theoretically,  but  mani- 
fested by  the  yearly  Synodical  appointments  of  mis- 
sionaries to  the  destitute  sections  of  our  church  within 
the  bounds  of  their  operations,  by  pecuniary  assistance 
afforded  to  poor  congregations  for  the  erection  of  hou- 
ses of  worship,  by  an  active  support  of  the  distribution 
of  the  word  of  God,  by  the  establishment  of  Mission- 
ary, Bible  and  Tract  societies  in  individual  congrega- 
tions, and  in  later  years  by  the  sending  of  a  mission- 
ary to  India,  that  the  cause  of  the  gospel  and  its  prop- 
agation at  home  and  abroad  were  practically  considered 
by  these  brethren  as  truly  benevolent  institutions. 

Peculiarly  gratifying  was  to  the  brethren  the  infor- 
mation, that  the  emigrants  from  Germany  to  the  far 
West,  had  not  been  forgotten  by  Christians  at  home. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Synod,  in  June,  1840,  letters  and  docu- 
ments were  laid  before  the  society,  from  which  it  ap- 
pears, that  our  trans- Atlantic  brethren  have  directed 
their  attention  to  the  Western  regions  of  the  United 
States  as  missionary  ground,  that  missionary  societies 
have  been  formed  in  various  places,  desirous  of  co- 
operating with  Synodical  authorities  in  this  country, 
towards  the  supply  of  our  German  brethren  in  the  West 
with  the  gospel.  This  information  was  the  more  grat- 
ifying, because  the  number  of  young  men,  who  receive 
their  education  in  our  Theological  institutions,  is 
scarcely  able  to  supply  the  demands  for  ministers  in 


200         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

the  old  settled  parts  of  the  country ;  and  the  proposi- 
tion for  united  action  in  the  field  of  home  mission  was 
cheerfully  accepted.  Several  brethren  from  Germany, 
educated  in  the  missionary  institutes  of  that  country, 
have  since  entered  upon  the  service  in  these  States, 
and  are  successfully  engaged  in  collecting  the  mem- 
bers of  our  Lutheran  church  living  in  the  great  Valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  East  and  West,  into  congregations, 
and  supplying  them  with  the  gospel.  Among  them 
are  the  brethren  Wynneken,  Nulsen,  Grabow,  and  oth- 
ers. 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod,  the 
Missionary  Society  connected  with  that  body  resolved 
in  reliance  on  Divine  Providence  to  commence  a  mis- 
sion among  the  heathen  of  Hindoostan ;  and  Brother 
Heyer  was  appointed  as  the  first  Missionary  from  an 
American  Lutheran  Synod,  to  labor  among  the  heathen. 
That  brother  has  accepted  the  important  appointment, 
and  is  now  on  his  way  to  India.  May  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  bless  the  labors  of  his  servant  in  India,  during 
the  second  century  of  our  church,  as  he  has  blessed  the 
seed,  sown  one  hundred  years  since  by  the  first  Mis- 
sionaries from  Europe,  in  these  States  during  the  first 
century  of  our  American  church,  and  may  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  pervade  every  part  of  our  Zion,  and  may 
hundreds  of  witnesses  to  the  doctrine  of  the  cross  arise 
from  every  quarter  to  bring  tidings  of  salvation  to  all 
heathen  lands. 


-AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.  201 

SYNOD  OF  MARYLAND. 

We  mentioned  before  that  in  the  year  1820  the 
brethren  living  in  Maryland  resolved  to  form  a  new 
Synodical  body,  under  the  title  :  "  Synod  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia.  In  1825  this  Synod  resolved  to  com- 
mence the  publication  of  a  "  Periodical  Work;"  being 
intended,  according  to  the  language  of  the  proposals, 
"to  subserve  all  those  purposes  in  regard  to  the  Luthe- 
ran churchy  which  other  celebrated  works  do,  to  the  res- 
pective denominations,  under  whose  patronage  they  ap- 
pear." It  was  published  during  the  first  year  of  its 
existence  under  the  title :  "  The  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Intelligencer,"  by  a  committee  of  clergymen,  appoin- 
ted by  Synod.  After  the  first  year  it  was  ably  conduc- 
ted by  the  Rev.  Dr.  David  F.  Schaeffer,  junior,  of 
Fredericktown,  Maryland.  It  was  the  first  religious 
periodical  published  by  any  Lutheran  Synod  in  the 
English  language  ;  and  though  from  want  of  support  it 
was  discontinued  after  the  appearance  of  the  fourth  vol- 
ume, yet  it  is  to  be  considered  as  the  pioneer  of  all 
the  succeeding  religious  publications  in  the  American 
Lutheran  church ;  it  has  excited  the  slumbering  spirit 
of  inquiry  among  us,  and  has  been  effective  in  pro- 
moting the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  church.  The 
brethren,  connected  with  this  Synod  from  its  com- 
mencement to  the  present  day,  have  uniformly  evin- 
ced the  most  laudable  zeal  in  the  promotion  of  every 
measure,  calculated  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the 
churches  committed  to  their  charge,  as  well  as  to  pro- 
mote the  weal  of  the  whole.  They  united  forthwith 
with  the  General  Synod,  and  in  fact  contributed  more 
18 


202        AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

\ 

to  its  preservation,  than  any  other  body  of  our  clergy- 
men have  done.  They  were  foremost  in  the  estab- 
lishment and  support  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Gettysburg,  and  by  the  exertions  of  the  ministers  of 
the  Synod  of  Maryland  the  funds  of  that  institution 
have  received  greater  accessions,  than  by  the  contribu- 
tions of  any  other  individual  Synod  in  the  United 
States.  A  member  of  this  zealous  body,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  S.  Schmucker,  became  the  first  Professor  of 
that  Seminary,  an d  another  brother,  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Kurtz,  the  willing  agent  of  the  Directors,  to  solicit  aid 
from  the  friends  of  religion  in  Germany  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  institution,  in  which  mission  he  proved 
eminently  successful.  We  also  believe,  that  the  breth- 
ren of  this  Synod  were  the  first  to  introduce  Special 
conferences  into  our  American  church.  On  these  oc- 
casions the  clergymen  residing  near  each  other,  met 
once  a  month,  in  one  of  their  congregations,  spending 
several  days  in  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  and  in  at- 
tending to  other  religious  exercises.  At  these  meetings 
theological  questions  may  also  be  discussed ;  conver- 
sations are  held  concerning  the  spiritual  state  of  their 
respective  congregations,  and  means  are  proposed  and 
resolved  upon,  which  in  the  opinion  of  the  conference 
may  have  a  tendency  to  promote  the  cause  of  religion 
within  the  bounds  of  their  activity. 

That  this  active  spirit  of  our  Maryland  brethren  had 
not  only  not  abated  after  a  zealous  labor  of  fifteen  years, 
but  had  increased  and  borne  fruit,  is  apparent  from  the 
address  of  Brother  Wachter,  President  of  Synod  in 
1835,  as  appears  from  the  following  extract  of  his 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          203 

address:  "Since  our  last  convention  at  Clear-Spring, 
our  church  has  enjoyed  the  benign  smiles  of  her  God 
and  Savior,  her  borders  have  been  extended,  her  mem- 
bers have  been  increased,  the  ranks  of  her  ministers 
have  not  been  thinned,  but  on  the  contrary  augmen- 
ted, and  in  short  the  most  favorable  aspects  present 
themselves  throughout.  During  the  past  year  several 
new  congregations  have  been  organized,  new  churches 
reared  for  the  Christian  worship  of  Almighty  God,  and 
such  as  have  been  in  a  state  of  dilapidation  have  been 
repaired,  and  others  enlarged.  These  facts  speak  loud, 
and  must  no  doubt  be  attributed  to  an  increase  of 
vital  godliness  among  our  people,  and  the  more  gene- 
ral diffusion  of  a  correct  knowledge  of  our  doctrines 
and  church  government.  Indeed,  the  circumstances 
and  occurrences  of  the  past  year,  cannot  fail  to  fill  our 
hearts  with  gratitude  to  God,  for  the  many  proofs  of 
his  loving  kindness  towards  us.  There  is  to  my  knowl- 
edge not  a  church  in  our  connexion,  that  has  not  con- 
tinued to  prosper  and  increase  since  our  last  annual 
meeting.  Conferences  and  meetings  on  Sacramental 
occasions  of  two  or  three  day's  continuance,  by  min- 
isters and  Christian  friends,  in  different  congregations, 
have  exerted  the  happiest  influence  in  awakening  sin- 
ners, and  confirming  believers  in  the  glorious  princi- 
ples of  the  gospel  of  Jesus." 

"  Prayer  meetings  conducted  in  accordance  with 
the  word  of  God,  are  generally  well  attended,  and 
perseveringly  encouraged  by  ministers  and  people.- — 
Bible  classes  and  Sunday  schools  are  receiving  more 
and  more  attention,  and  their  blessed  effects  are  visi- 


204         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

ble,  wherever  they  have  been  introduced.  The  Tem- 
perance cause,  which  is  so  closely  united  with  the 
benevolent  operations  of  the  day,  is  successfully  pro- 
moted in  different  parts  of  our  church." 

Soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  Seminary  at 
Gettysburg,  an  Education  Society  was  formed  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  for  the  aid  of  pious  persons,  unable 
to  furnish  the  means  for  the  prosecution  of  Theologi- 
cal studies  at  said  Seminary.  This  Society  has  assis- 
ted a  number,  who  are  now  engaged  in  the  vineyard 
of  the  Lord,  and  this  body  is  still  furnishing  aid  to 
the  General  Education  Society  engaged  in  the  same  be- 
nevolent work.  In  1835  the  Synod  formed  itself  into  a 
Missionary  association,  the  principal  object  of  which 
is,  to  send  Missionaries  to  destitute  churches,  and  to 
aid  in  the  support  of  ministers  whose  congregations 
are  unable  to  raise  a  sufficient  support  for  them.  This 
association  declared  itself  auxiliary  to  the  Central  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  connexion 
with  iw.  General  Synod. 

SYNOD  OF  VIRGINIA. 

The  ministers  in  Virginia,  who  had  generally  been 
connected  with  the  Synod  of  Maryland,  whence  also 
the  original  title  of  that  Synod  has  been,  "  Synod  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia,"  assembled  in  Special  con- 
ference, May  8th,  1829,  with  the  view  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  forming  a  separate  Synod  within  the 
boundaries  of  that  commonwealth.  The  question  was 
decided  in  the  affirmative,  and  the  first  meeting  of  the 
new  Synod  was  fixed  upon  the  second  Lord's  day  in 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  205 

October,  1830.  At  the  formation  of  this  body  the 
number  of  congregations  in  its  connexion  was  twenty- 
eight,  with  about  2000  communicant  members,  atten- 
ded by  seven  ministers ;  in  1840  the  number  of  min- 
isters was  sixteen.  As  not  all  the  brethren  had  laid 
before  Synod  full  parochial  reports  in  1840,  we  cannot 
give  an  estimate  of  the  increase  of  actual  members, 
conclude  however,  from  the  tenor  of  the  minutes  of 
that  year,  after  a  ten  year's  Synodical  existence,  that 
the  increase  of  the  communicant  members  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Virginia  Synod  must  be  at  least  com- 
mensurable with  the  increase  of  ministers.  The  report 
of  Rev.  President  Davis  is  highly  encouraging,  and  the 
minutes  themselves  bear  witness,  that  all  the  brethren 
in  connexion  with  the  Synod  of  Virginia  are  actively 
engaged  in  the  service  of  our  common  Lord  and  Sa- 
vior. Conferential  meetings,  the  maintenance  and  ex- 
tension of  Sabbath  schools,  Bible  classes,  appointments 
of  Lay  readers  in  vacant  and  destitute  congregations, 
in  short,  every  measure,  calculated  to  promote  the* 
cause  of  religion,  are  forming  prominent  subjects  for 
deliberations  in  the  Synodical  sessions  of  those  breth- 
ren. As  an  additional  evidence  of  the  activity  of  the 
Brethren  of  this  Synod  in  promoting  the  best  interests 
of  the  church,  we  have  to  mention  the  publication  of 
"  The  Lutheran  Preacher,"  by  Rev.  Lewis  Eichleber- 
ger,  in  monthly  numbers,  each  containing  two  ser- 
mons, from  Lutheran  ministers.  In  the  first  number 
we  find  one  sermon  from  Rev.  D.  F.  SchaefFer,  of 
Frederick,  Maryland,  the  other  from  Rev.  Professor 
G.  B.  Miller  of  Hart  wick  Seminary.  At  its  appear- 
18* 


206         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

ance  the  Editor  of  the  Observer  in  1832,  (Dr.  J.  G. 
Morris,)  remarks  :  "  The  appearance  of  this  work  has 
excited  considerable  sensation.  It  was  a  bold  underta- 
king, and  it  is  a  department  of  periodical  literature, 
quite  novel  in  our  church.  It  appears  however,  that  the 
Editor,  (Rev.  Mr.  Eichleberger,)  has  received  assu- 
rances of  support  from  men  high  in  influence  and  horn- 
Hectical  abilities ."  We  add  to  these  remarks,  that 
circumstances  have  come  to  our  knowledge,  eviden- 
cing, that  the  Lord  has  made  this  work  a  source  of 
blessing  to  many  a  soul.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  in  1839,  the  Virginia  Synod  united  with 
that  body ;  its  first  delegates  were  the  Rev.  Lewis 
Eichleberger  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hamilton. 

SYNOD  OF  WEST  PENNSYLVANIA. 
We  have  noticed,  page  196  of  this  volume,  the  for- 
mation of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod  in  1825.  In 
addition  to  the  causes  for  separation,  as  given  by  the 
brethren  who  met  in  convention  at  Greencastle,  in 
1824,  we  cannot  but  believe,  that  their  desire  of  pre- 
serving the  union  with  the  General  Synod  was  not 
forgotten,  into  which  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  had  first 
entered,  but  which  afterwards  had  been  given  up  by 
that  body,  because  prejudices  began  to  run  high  in  the 
churches  against  the  General  Synod.  Therefore  these 
brethren  confirmed  their  union  \vith  the  General  Syn- 
od at  their  first  meeting  at  Chambersburg  on  the  first 
Sunday  of  September,  1825.  At  this  meeting  it  was 
resolved,  to  adopt  the  constitution  of  the  ecclesiastical 
body,  to  which  they  formerly  belonged.  Its  first  offi- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          207 

cers  were :  Rev.  Dr.  John  G.  Schmucker,  President, 
Rev.  William  Shultz,  Secretary,  and  Rev.  Benjamin 
Keller,  Treasurer. 

The  publication  of  a  periodical  work,  considered  as 
continuation  of  the  Evangelical  Magazine,  which  in 
former  years  had  been  edited  by  the  Synod  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  the  German  language,  was  resolved,  and  a 
pastoral  address  to  the  churches  connected  with  the 
Synod  was  sent  forth  with  the  minutes,  which  exhibits 
in  one  view  the  rapid  growth,  the  various  necessities 
and  increasing  wants  of  our  church  in  this  country, 
and  closes  with  an  earnest  and  affecting  appeal  to  all 
the  brethren  "for  greater  zeal,  more  spirit  and  life  in 
the  good  cause"  The  necessity  of  such  an  appeal 
manifested  itself  chiefly  in  the  difficulties,  which  this 
patriotic  Synod  experienced  in  the  start  of  the  period- 
ical, intended  to  diffuse  light  and  knowledge  concern- 
ing religion  in  general,  and  more  particularly  respect- 
ing the  state  and  condition  of  our  own  church.  Four 
years  elapsed,  ere  the  intended  publication  appeared 
in  public,  but  by  the  persevering  efforts  of  the  Synod,  a 
sufficient  number  of  subscribers  was  at  length  secured 
so  as  to  protect  the  Synod  against  too  overpowering  a 
loss. 

The  brethren  of  this  Synodical  body  in  connexion 
with  the  members  of  the  Maryland  and  North  Carolina 
Synods,  resolved  also  to  establish  a  Theological  Sem- 
inary. As  no  funds  existed  for  an  undertaking  of  so 
great  magnitude,  agents  were  appointed  to  solicit  con- 
tributions to  this  great  and  noble  work,  and  the  appeal 
to  the  churches  and  individual  members  was  not  made 


208          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

in  vain.  The  Rev.  Mr.  S.  S.  Schmucker,  of  New  Mar- 
ket, Virginia,  was  appointed  by  the  three  Synods,  Pro- 
fessor of  Theology ;  the  institution  was  located  at  Get- 
tysburg, Adams  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  statutes, 
formed  by  the  three  Synods,  who  established  the  Sem- 
inary, declare  in  the  second  and  third  articles,  that  this 
institution  shall  be  under  the  sole  government  of  a 
Board  of  Directors,  five  from  each  Synod,  connected 
with  the  General  Synod,  who  have  contributed  or  do 
contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Seminary,  that  this 
Board  is  not  in  any  respect,  under  the  control  of  the 
General  Synod,  but  each  member  is  responsible,  indi- 
vidually, to  the  Synod,  by  which  he  is  elected.*  From 
the  catalogue  it  appears,  that  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen students  have  received  instructions  for  a  longer  or 
a  shorter  space  of  time,  in  that  Seminary  to  the  present 
year  ;  some  have  departed  at  an  early  stage  of  useful- 
ness, but  the  larger  number  are  engaged  in  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord.  The  whole  number  of  students  in 
1840 — the  date  of  the  catalogue — was  twenty-six,  and 
fifty  others  were  in  the  literary  institutions  of  Gettys- 
burg, preparing  to  engage  in  Theological  studies. — 
The  present  faculty  consists  of  the  following  brethren: 
1.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  S.  Schmucker,  chairman  of 
the  faculty  and  professor  of  Didactic  and  Polemic,  Horn- 
iletic  and  Pastoral  Theology.  2.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Charles 
P.  Krauth,  Professor  of  Sacred  Philology  and  Exege- 
sis. 3.  The  Rev.  Henry  J.  Smith,  Professor  of  Ger- 
man language  and  literature. 

*See  General  catalogue  and  constitution  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  printed  1840, — page  3d  of  Statutes, 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  209 

July  10th,  1826,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lochman  departed 
this  life  at  Harrisburg,  having  been  the  Pastor  of  that 
congregation  for  the  last  eleven  years.  Previous  to 
his  removal  to  Harrisburg  he  had  for  some  time  offici- 
ated as  minister  of  the  congregation  at  Lebanon,  Dau- 
phin county.  In  both  places  the  Lord  had  blessed  the 
labors  of  his  servant.  We  regret  to  say,  that  we  have 
not  been  able  to  obtain  any  particulars  of  our  deceased 
brother's  activity  in  his  master's  cause.  We  have  un- 
derstood, that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lochman  received  his 
Theological  education  under  the  direction  of  the  learn- 
ed Dr.  Helmuth.  That  he  was  held  in  high  estimation 
by  his  brethren  appears  from  the  notice  taken  of  his 
departure  by  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod  during  its 
session  at  Berlin,  Somerset  county,  in  1826.  Having 
stated,  that  by  the  early  departure  of  their  brother  the 
Synod  had  lost  a  truly  worthy  member,  the  church  of 
Christ  an  able  advocate,  and  his  congregation  a  faith- 
ful pastor,  the  following  resolution  was  passed  as  a 
mark  of  respect  and  in  remembrance  of  his  services  : 
"  Resolved,  That  Synod  sincerely  lament  the  death 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lochman,  and  that  the  members  as  a 
mark  of  respect,  and  as  a  testimonial  of  their  sorrow, 
wear  a  crape  for  the  space  of  three  months." 

The  State  of  religion  within  the  bounds  of  that  Syn- 
od, as  well  as  the  difficulties  under  which  ministers 
were  laboring,  cannot  be  better  depicted  than  it  has 
been  in  the  Pastoral  letter  of  the  Synod  to  the  church- 
es in  1826  ;  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"After  a  mature  and  prayerful  consideration  of  the 
state  of  our  congregations,  the  following  points  were 


210          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

considered  as  essentially  necessary  to  be  presented  for 
your  immediate  consideration.  First:  In  reference  to 
the  ministers  we  remark,  that  there  is  too  great  an  in- 
equality in  their  stations,  some  having  from  six  to  ten 
congregations  under  their  charge,  while  others  have 
but  two  or  three.  It  is  impossible  to  persuade  our- 
selves to  believe,  that  a  minister,  however  strong  his 
bodily  constitution  and  energetic  his  intellectual  facul- 
ties may  be,  is  able  to  attend  to  so  many  congregations 
in  a  profitable  manner.  How  can  he  become  wrell  ac- 
quainted with  his  flock  ?  And  unless  he  knows  his 
people,  how  shall  he  be  able  to  suit  his  sermons  and 
exhortations  to  their  particular  and  individual  cases  ? 
And  whence  then,  shall  the  congregations  obtain  the 
necessary  food  for  their  immortal  souls.  Synod  would 
therefore  most  affectionately  advise  the  brethren,  to 
effect  a  change  in  this  respect,  and  to  sacrifice  their 
temporal  interest  for  the  cause  of  Christ  and  for  the 
sake  of  immortal  souls !  Secondly :  In  regard  to  our 
congregations  we  have  to  observe,  that  ministers  have 
often  complained  to  Synod,  that  their  congregations  do 
not  give  them  an  adequate  support.  It  is  indeed  to 
be  lamented,  that  so  many  members  of  our  congrega- 
tions act  so  inconsiderate  and  sinful  in  this  respect ; 
they  care  not,  whether  their  ministers  contend  with 
want  and  poverty,  or  not. 

May  this  not  be  the  reason,  why  so  little  good  is 
effected  among  you,  in  as  much  as  the  preacher  must 
perform  his  duty  with  a  heart  filled  with  sorrow  and 
care  ?  The  Synod  likewise  ardently  desires,  that  a  bet- 
ter and  more  complete  church  discipline  might  be  in- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  211 

troduced.  We  have  often  observed  with  deep  regret, 
that  ministers  pursue  no  uniform  course  in  executing 
church  discipline  in  important  cases,  which  produces 
difference  in  opinion  and  deportment ;  this  certainly 
will  prove  injurious  to  the  church.  Many  have  often 
expressed  a  desire  that  something  may  soon  be  done 
in  this  matter.  Our  brethren  of  the  Maryland  and 
Virginia  Synod,  have  published  a  church  discipline 
some  few  y£ars  ago,  and  the  happy  and  blessed  effects 
thereof  are  already  visible  among  them.  Finally,  we 
pray  and  beseech  all  our  ministers,  Elders,  Deacons, 
and  church  members,  to  assist  us  by  Divine  Grace  in 
breaking  down  the  kingdom  of  Satan  and  in  building 
up  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  Christ,"  &c. 

At  the  Synodical  session  of  1829  an  education  and 
missionary  society  was  formed,  which  is  still  in  activ- 
ity, and  has  effected  and  is  effecting  much  good.  At 
the  close  of  the  Synodical  sessions  in  1835,  the  mem- 
bers of  Synod  and  other  Lutheran  ministers  then  pres- 
ent, formed  a  central  missionary  Society,  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  which  the  recommendation  of  a  brother, 
member  of  Synod,  had  greatly  contributed.  Agreea- 
ble to  its  constitution  this  Society  is  also  general.  ( See 
Art.  ii.  andix.)  There  is  no  doubt,  such  an  institution, 
if  suitably  supported,  would  prove  highly  satisfactory 
and  beneficial  to  the  church  at  large,  its  situation  how- 
ever, spread  as  it  is  over  the  immense  territory  of  the 
United  States,  will  require  in  the  executive  committee, 
men,  who  are  intimately  acquainted  with  the  spiritual 
wants  of  every  portion  of  the  church,  if  their  delibera- 
tions and  actions  shall  be  truly  general,  which  is  not 


212  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

to  be  expected  from  a  committee,  composed  of  breth- 
ren, who  must  necessarily,  from  the  convenience  of 
frequent  meetings,  live  in  a  central  spot.  The  active 
and  pious  spirit  of  the  brethren  of  the  West  Pennsyl- 
vania Synod*  is  therefore  worthy  of  all  praise,  but  we 
cannot  convince  ourselves,  that  a  central  or  general 
missionary  Society  in  our  church  will  or  can  be  as  ef- 
fective in  every  part,  as  Synodical  missionary  Societies 
would  be,  if  the  same  zeal  were  pervading  every  Syn- 
od, which  is  evidently  breathing  in  the  meetings  of  our 
brethren  of  West  Pennsylvania. 

SYNOD  OF  OHIO. 

It  has  already  been  observed,  that  this  Synod  after 
an  existence  of  nine  years  consisted  of  twenty-five  min- 
isters, whose  duty  it  was  to  take  care  of  the  spiritual 
interest  of  ninety-five  congregations.  The  want  of 
pastors  was  therefore  severely  felt,  and  Synod  resolved 
in  1830  to  undertake  the  establishment  of  a  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  in  reliance  on  divine  aid.  The  com- 
mittee appointed  to  take  this  important  subject  into 
consideration,  reported,  that,  in  confidence  of  God, 
who  had  blessed  the  pious  exertions  of  a  Franke,  when 
with  four  dollars  and  forty  cents  he  resolved  to  build 
an  orphan-house,  at  Halle,  the  committee  propose  to 
Synod,  first:  To  inquire,  if  a  brother,  member  of  our 
ecclesiastical  body,  possessing  the  necessary  talents 
and  acquirements  may  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  give 
the  instruction  gratis  for  some  time  at  least,  until  means 

for  his  support  can  be  found.     Second  :  To  inquire  in 

** 

*See  minutes  of  West  Pennsylvania  minutes  of  1835,  page  20. 


-AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  213 

how  far  the  difficulty  in  procuring  the  necessary  books 
of  instruction  may  be  obviated  by  accepting  the  offer 
of  several  brethren  and  other  friends  of  the  institution, 
to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  library  through  the  medium 
of  friends  in  Germany.  This  report  being  accepted  it 
was  resolved,  to  engage  if  possible  a  brother  of  the  ne- 
cessary qualifications  as  teacher  in  the  institution.  The 
Rev.  William  Smith,  a  graduate  of  ^ne  of  the  German 
universities  offering  his  services  in  ^case  none  of  the 
other  members  of  Synod  were  inclined  to  accept  the 
appointment,  the  offer  was  gratefully  accepted,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith  was  appointed  Professor  of  The- 
ology at  the  new  Seminary ;  which  was  hence  to  be 
known  under  the  title :  The  Theological  Institute  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Ohio.  Its  first  lo- 
cation was  Canton,  .Stark  county,  but  afterwards  it 
was  removed  to  Columbus,  the  capital  of  the  State. 
Though  Mr.  Smith  had  promised  to  give  instruction 
gratis,  the  Synod  nevertheless  resolved  to  offer  him 
such  compensation  as  the  State  of  the  funds  would 
permit,  but  the  Professor  requested  Synod,  to  employ 
an  assistant  teacher  for  such  compensation,  and  hon- 
orably offered  his  own  services  for  two  years  without 
any  remuneration. 

July  14th,  1830,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  call  the  Rev. 
John  M.  Steck,  Senior,  to  his  rest.  He  was  born 
October  5th,  1756,  at  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia. 
His  brethren  give  him  the  testimony  of  a  faithful  ser- 
vant of  his  Lord,  who  spared  not  himself  in  the  cause 
of  Christ.  The  character  of  his  addresses  to  the  peo- 
ple is  described  as  engaging  and  affectionate.  At  the 
19 


214         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

time  of  his  departure  he  was  minister  of  the  congrega- 
tions in  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  its  neighbor- 
hood. In  the  German  political  paper  of  that  town  his 
departure  is  announced,  accompanied  with  the  follow- 
ing remarks :  "  The  deceased  was  a  faithful  laborer 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  and  the  church  has  met 
with  a  great  loss  in  his  death.  He  was  an  enemy  of 
all  vice,  and  rebuked  it  without  fear  of  men.  He 
spared  no  pains  in  the  religious  instruction  of  youth, 
and  thousands  who  by  him  were  inducted  into  the 
church  by  confirmation,  cannot  deny  him  the  testimo- 
nial of  a  faithful  teacher.  He  was  an  affectionate  hus- 
band, a  tender  father  and  a  benefactor  to  the  poor.  His 
immortal  spirit  left  the  tenement  of  clay  without  a 
struggle.  For  some  time  he  had  been  aware  of  the 
approach  of  death,  without  fear,  for  he  looked  beyond 
death  and  the  grave,  into  eternity,  where  he  hoped 
through  grace  to  receive  the  reward  of  a  servant,  who 
had  desired  to  be  faithful,  from  the  hand  of  his  Lord. 
The  patience  and  resignation  in  the  will  of  Providence, 
with  which  he  bore  his  last  sufferings,  did  demonstrate, 
that  he  had  experienced  the  power  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus  in  his  own  soul.  His  age  was  73  years,  9  months 
and  9  days.  He  left  a  widow,  13  children  and  66 
grand- children  to  mourn  his  loss." 

In  1831  the  Synod  of  Ohio,  in  consideration  that  the 
territory  within  which  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  con- 
gregations were  united  in  one  Synod,  was  so  extensive, 
that  the  yearly  meeting  of  all  the  brethren  in  one  body 
became  burdensome,  resolved  to  form  two  divisions 
of  Synod,  denominated  "the  Eastern  and  the  Western 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          215 

Districts  of  the  Ohio  Synod;"  it  was  further  agreed, 
that  each  of  these  divisions  should  yearly  hold  Synod- 
ical  meetings  within  its  own  bounds,  and  perform  in 
their  sessions  all  the  business  pertaining  to  a  Synod  of 
the  Ev.  Lutheran  church,  but  that  the  bond  of  union 
hitherto  subsisting  between  the  members  of  both  parts, 
should  not  be  severed.  A  meeting  of  both  Synodical 
bodies  is  to  be  held  triennially,  in  which  the  Synodical 
acts  of  both  the  Eastern  and  Western  District  should 
be  subject  to  a  revision,  if  necessary,  and  that  in  these 
triennial  sessions  of  the  Ohio  Synod  every  thing  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  the  whole  e.  g.  the  affairs  of 
the  Seminary,  Missionary  operations,  &c.,  are  to  be 
taken  into  consideration. 

The  prevalence  of  the  English  language  in  many 
congregations,  nad  made  the  introduction  of  that  lan- 
guage into  the  church  service  and  in  the  instruction  of 
the  young,  indispensable  ;  hence  the  expediency  of  es- 
tablishing an  English  Synod  within  the  bounds  of  the 
German  Synod  of  Ohio  was  discussed  during  its  ses- 
sion in  1836,  and  approved  of,  on  conditions  similar 
to  those,  which  had  been  stipulated  respecting  the 
Eastern  and  Western  District  Synods.  The  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  continued  to  flourish  under  the  direction 
of  its  Professor,  Rev.  William  S/nith,  after  its  removal 
and  permanent  location  at  Columbus  ;  but  in  1839  it 
pleased  the  Lord  to  deprive  this  institution  of  its  teach- 
er and  the  Synod  of  Ohio  of  an  active  and  zealous 
member,  by  calling  Mr.  Smith,  in  the  midst  of  his 
usefulness,  from  his  labors  to  the  rest  above.  The 
Rev.  C,  F.  Sclutefer,  Pastor  of  the  church  at  Hagers- 


216  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

town,  Maryland,  was  called  to  fill  the  chair  as  Profes- 
sor in  the  Ohio  Theological  institution. 

In  the  session  of  the  English  Synod  in  1840,  diver- 
sity of  opinion  respecting  an  amendment  of  the  Syn- 
odical  constitution,  became  apparent.  During  the  ses- 
sion of  the  joint  Synod  of  Ohio  in  1836,  the  committee 
appointed  to  draft  a  constitution  for  an  English  Luthe- 
ran Synod  in  connexion  with  the  joint  Synod,  had 
reported  the  acceptance  of  the  old  constitution  of  the 
Ohio  Synod  with  a  few  amendments  without  any  ma- 
terial change.  In  the  supplementary  articles  the  fol- 
lowing important  items  appear,  a.  u  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  this  body  to  maintain  an  intimate  union  with 
the  German  Synod  and  co-operate  with  the  same  as 
far  as  practicable  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  wel- 
fare of  each,  b.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  body  to 
send  annually*?  a  delegate  to  attend  the  session  of  the 
German  Synod,  and  it  is  requested,  that  the  said 
Synod  will  reciprocate  the  same,  as  such  a  delegate 
from  the  German  Synod  will  rot  only  be  honorably 
and  affectionately  received,  but  regarded  as  necessa- 
ry to  promote  and  continue  the  intimate  union  al- 
luded to  in  article  first,  c.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
this  Synod  to  communicate  annually  a  correct  copy 
of  all  its  proceedings  to  the  German  Synod,  d.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Synod,  to  transmit  annually 
one  half  of  the  monies  paid  into  the  Synodical  Treas- 
ury for  the  use  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Colum- 
bus, and  in  all  other  ways  co-operate  in  promoting  its 
prosperity,  e.  The  Augsburg  confession  of  faith  shall 
be  the  unalterable  Symbol  of  the  doctrines  of  this  Syn- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  217 

od,  and  all  its  members  shall  ex  animo  profess  adhe- 
rence to  all  its  articles  complete  and  entire,  without  any 
reservation." 

In  the  afternoon  session  of  Synod  on  Thursday, 
June  2d,  1836,  the  report  of  the  committee  had  again 
been  taken  up  and  the  pro-posed  constitution  of  the 
English  Lutheran  Synod  of  Ohio  was  adopted  with  the 
following  amendment.  "  That  this  Synod  does  not 
recognize  any  minister  of  any  Synod,  as  member  of 
this  body,  who  denies,  that  the  doctrinal  articles  of  the 
Augsburg  confession  of  faith  are  the  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  the  Lutheran  church.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
this  Synod  to  continue  in  the  connexion  aforesaid,  with 
the  German  Synod,  and  without  the  concurrence  of 
this  Synod,  not  to  unite  with  any  other  ecclesiastical 
body  beyond  the  District  of  the  said  German  Synod 
of  Ohio."  The  34th  resolution  of  the  German  Synod 
was  then  adopted  in  words  following:  Resolved, 
u  That  the  Synod  approve  this  constitution,  and  herewith 
grant  permission  and  authority  to  organize  an  English 
Lutheran  Synod  of  Ohio,  ivithin  the  boundaries  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Synod  of  Ohio."  The  constitution 
of  Synod  and  resolution  respecting  its  organization 
were  adopted  as  stated  in  the  minutes,  page  16,  by  all 
the  votes  of  the  members  present,  except  one.  The 
members  of  the  new  Synod  present  at  this  meeting  of 
the  joint  Synod,  sanctioned  this  grant,  authority  and 
permission  of  the  joint  Synod  by  their  vote,  and  we 
do  not  discover  that  in  the  first  and  second  sessions  of 
the  English  Synod  objections  were  raised  against  the 
constitution  adopted  in  1836.  Having  therefore  acted 


2  18  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

under  the  said  constitution  for  some  years,  it  would  ap- 
pear, that  since  there  were  two  parties  to  the  formation 
of  said  constitution,  viz :  the  English  Lutheran  Synod, 
and  the  joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  if  an  alteration  were  to 
take  place,  both  parties  ought  to  have  united  in  this 
change,  but  that  an  ex  parte  violation  was  inadmissible. 
Some  of  the  brethren  however,  thought  otherwise,  and 
resolved  on  rescinding  the  supplementary  Articles  1 
and  7.*     Hence  a  lamentable  separation  took  place, 
and  we  regret  to  state,  that  the  breach  is  not  yet  heal- 
ed.      The   Kirchenzeitung,  edited  and   published    at 
Easton   by  the    Rev,    Professor   Frederick   Schmidt, 
at  its  establishment,  is  now  edited  and  published  at 
Pittsburg,  by  the  same  able  Editor.     The  Western 
District  Synod  of  Ohio  resolved  in  1841  to  commence 
the  publication  of  a  second  English  church  paper  en- 
titled :  "  The  Lutheran  Herald,"  and  Rev.  Mr.  Green- 
wald  was  appointed  Editor,  f     In  the  same  year  two 
active  brethren  in  the  ministry  departed  this  life,  who 
had  been  connected  with  the  Western  District  Synod 
of  Ohio  ;  viz:  the  Rev.  Charles  Henkel,  Pastor  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church  in  Somerset,  Perry  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  the  Rev.  Jldolphus  Conrad,  Pastor  of  the 
church  at  Tiffin.     Rev.  Charles  Henkel  was  born  at 
New  Market,  Shenandoah  county,  Virginia,  May  18th, 
1798.     Having  acquired  the  necessary  preparatory  in- 
struction, he  studied  Theology  under  the  direction  of 
his  father,  the  Rev.  Paul  Henkel ;  in  1818  he  received 
license  as  a  candidate  of  the  ministry.     In  1820  he  re- 

*See  minutes  of  the  joint  Synod  of  Ohio  of  1836,  page  13,  14. 
tSee  minutes  of  English  Synod,  1840,  page  8. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          21& 

moved  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  successfully  la- 
bored for  seven  years.  In  1827  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Lutheran  congregation  in  the  town  and  vicinity  of 
Somerset,  where  he  continued  to  officiate  as  a  faithful 
ambassador  of  Christ  until  the  close  of  his  life.  His 
brethren  give  him  the  testimony,  that  in  his  sphere  of 
labor  as  preacher  of  the  gospel,  he  evinced  much  firm- 
ness of  character,  perseverance  in  inquiries  after  truth, 
and  zeal  in  its  propagation  for  the  salvation  of  men. 
In  his  social  intercourse,  they  further  state,  he  was 
kind  and  amiable.  With  sincerity  of  heart,  he  com- 
bined serenity  of  mind,  and  true  philanthropy,  and  thus 
gained  not  only  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  in- 
timate friends,  but  also  of  all  others,  who  knew  him. 
His  unwavering  faith  in  Jesus  sustained  him  amidst 
all  the  vicissitudes  of  his  life,  and  especially  amidst 
the  afflictions  of  the  last  year,  during  which  his  strength 
of  body  wasted  under  the  ravages  of  consumption,  and 
rendered  him  unable  to  labor  much  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord.  His  confidence  in  the  Lord  was  most  con- 
spicuously displayed,  whilst  suffering  on  his  bed  of 
sickness.  On  the  day  before  his  departure,  when  a 
brother  in  office  conversed  with  him  about  his  situa- 
tion, he  said:  "I  have  often  been  at  the  bed-side  of 
the  sick  and  the  dying,  to  impart  consolation ;  and  the 
doctrines,  with  which  I  endeavored  to  console  others, 
I  now  find  consoling  to  myself."  And  as  the  same 
brother  conversed  with  him  more  fully  about  his  latter 
end,  he  said:  "The  doctrines,  that  I  have  believed 
and  preached  during  my  life,  I  shall  seal  with  my 
death,"  Thus  he  fell  asleep,  peacefully  and  quietly, 


220         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

in  the  Lord,  February  2d,  1841,  in  the  43d  year  of 
his  age,  strong  in  faith  and  with  a  firm  hope  of  eternal 
life. 

Rev.  Mr.  Conrad  was  born  November  llth,  1805, 
in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden  in  Germany,  and  there 
pursued  the  study  of  Jurisprudence.  He  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1832,  and  was  for  some  time  en- 
gaged as  classical  teacher  in  the  Seminary  at  Colum- 
bus, during  which  time  he  devoted  himself  to  the  stu- 
dy of  Divinity.  At  the  session  of  the  Synod  at  Miam- 
isburg  in  1834,  he  was  received  as  candidate  of 
Theology,  and  immediately  engaged  upon  his  field  of 
labor  in  Tiffin.  In  1838  he  was  solemnly  ordained 
pastor.  In  his  congregation  he  was  beloved  as  a 
father ;  by  all  who  knew  him,  he  was  honored  and  es- 
teemed ;  and  by  his  brethren  of  the  ministry  he  was 
universally  respected.  Irreproachable  in  his  life,  truly 
evangelic  in  his  doctrine,  faithful  and  fearless  in  the 
ministry,  incessant  in  labors  for  the  glory  of  his  Savior 
and  the  salvation  of  his  fellow-men,  he  presented  a 
bright  pattern  to  his  brethren  in  the  ministry. — Having 
been  for  some  time  afflicted  with  an  inflammation  of 
the  lungs,  brought  on  by  his  severe  ministerial  labors, 
he  returned  on  the  12th  of  March  from  his  congrega- 
tions, more  indisposed  than  usual,  and  afflicted  with 
pain.  During  eleven  days  he  was  confined  to  his  bed, 
but  the  same  Christian  spirit,  which  sustained  him  in 
his  labors  of  the  ministry,  now  also  fortified  him  amidst 
the  scenes  of  his  severe  afflictions,  and  he  placed  his 
trust  in  God  as  his  father,  reconciled  to  him  in  Christ. 
He  committed  himself,  his  family,  and  his  congrega- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.         221 

tions  into  the  care  of  a  merciful  God,  and  his  last 
words  were:  "  Father,  I  take  hold  of  thy  hands."  He 
died  March  23d,  1841,  in  the  35th  year  of  Jris  age. 

SYNOD  OF  THE  WEST. 

The  tide  of  emigration  having  set  in  from  the  East 
to  the  West,  thousands  of  persons,  connected  with  the 
Lutheran  church  in  the  East,  previous  to  their  removal, 
were  carried  along  with  the  flood,  and  in  Kentucky, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  and  still  later  in  Missouri  and  Arkan- 
sas, settlements  of  our  friends  were  formed.  In  the 
commencement  of  the  fourth  decennium  of  the  present 
century,  Lutheran  ministers  began  to  collect  and  form 
congregations  in  those  distant  States.  Although  these 
new  congregations  and  settlements  were  scattered  over 
a  large  tract  of  territory,  the  brethren  were  neverthe- 
less anxious  to  form  a  Synodical  association,  after  the 
example  of  the  churches  in  the  more  Eastern  regions 
of  the  great  American  Republic,  for  the  better  govern- 
ment and  benefit  of  the  church.  A  Synod  was  there- 
fore formed  in  1835 ;  of  which  brethren  Jacob  Krizgler, 
William  Jenkins ,  George  Jaeger,  J.  J.  Lehmanows/cy, 
Daniel  Sherer,  and  Abraham  Reck,  were  the  first  mem- 
bers. These  brethren,  as  well  as  those,  who  since  have 
connected  themselves  with  this  ecclesiastical  body,  are 
zealously  engaged  in  the  Master's  cause.  One  of  the 
first  inquiries  after  their  organization  was,  the  expedi- 
ency of  establishing  a  Theological  Seminary,  of  ap- 
pointing agents  to  collect  funds  for  the  same  ;  and  also 
the  propriety  of  commencing  a  religious  newspaper. 
These  brethren  have  both  theoretically  and  practically 


222  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

expressed  their  approbation  of  all  the  benevolent  in- 
stitutions in  the  Christian  church  of  the  present  day, 
and  declared  their  firm  determination  of  promoting 
Bible,  Tract,  Missionary  and  Temperance  societies 
within  the  sphere  of  their  activity.  This  they  evinced 
in  a  special  manner  in  the  question  of  union  with  the 
Synod  of  Indiana,  a  body,  connected  with  the  Synod 
of  Tennessee,  the  origin  of  which  is  found  in  the  dis- 
orderly separation  of  David  Henkel,  when  under  cen- 
sure for  alleged  immoral  conduct,  from  the  Synod  of 
North  Carolina.  In  relation  to  this  union,  the  Rev.  A. 
Miller  of  the  Tennessee  Synod  had  directed  a  letter 
under  date  of  June  18th,  1840,  to  the  corresponding 
committee*  of  the  Synod  of  the  West,  in  which  he  con- 
sidered the  following  propositions  as  conditional  of  such 
union  :  1 .  u  The  Synod  of  the  West  is  to  rescind  its  res- 
lution,  which  attaches  it  to  the  General  Synod.  2.  The 
Synod  of  the  West  is  to  oppose  the  falsely  called  benevo- 
lent societies  of  the,  present  day — such  as  Tract ,  Tem- 
perance^ Missionary ,  Bible,  and  a  host  of  such  like  fan- 
tastical societies ."  The  brethren  justly  resolved,  that 
a  union,  however  desirable  otherwise,  is  altogether 
impracticable  on  conditions  as  stated  in  the  letter  of 
A.  Miller. 

In  1841,  this  Synod  united  with  the  General  Synod 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  met  with  a  cordial  recep- 
tion. In  the  seventh  annual  session  of  Synod  at  In- 
dianapolis, Indiana,  the  questions  of  establishing  a 
Theological  Seminary  within  their  bounds,  and  of  pub- 
lishing a  religious  paper  in  the  English  language  were 
*See  minutes  of  the  Synod  of  the  West,  session  of  1840,  p.  14. 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  223 

not  only  finally  resolved  upon,  but  measures  were  also 
taken  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  objects  contem- 
plated. A  commencement  was  made  in  collecting 
funds  for  the  Seminary,  a  constitution  of  said  Semina- 
ry was  discussed  and  adopted,  the  Rev.  Abraham 
Reck  was  in  connexion  with  one  of  the  English  Lu- 
theran Synods  in  Ohio  appointed  Missionary  to  the 
city  of  Cincinnati,  both  Synods  engaging  to  contribute 
to  his  support,  so  as  to  make  up  the  sum  of  $400  for 
that  purpose,  and  finally  it  was  resolved,  that  the  new 
paper  was  to  be  styled,  "  The  Western  Lutheran  Ob- 
server," and  Rev.  Mr.  Yaeger  was  appointed  editor; 
its  publication  is  to  take  place  as  soon  as  1500  sub- 
scribers shall  have  been  obtained.  It  is  then  to  be 
published  monthly,  of  a  size  equal  to  that  of  the  pres- 
ent Lutheran  Observer,  at  $ 2  per  annum.  As  some 
of  the  brethren  formerly  connected  with  this  body,  had 
asked  and  obtained  dismission  from  their  Synod  with 
a  view  of  forming  a  "  church  union"  between  min- 
isters and  congregations  of  the  Lutheran  and  Ger- 
man Reformed  churches,  the  Synod  gave  these  breth- 
ren and  others,  that  might  follow  their  example,  the 
prudent  counsel,  to  desist  from  the  undertaking,  in  as 
much  as  it  could  not  be  expected,  that  the  Lutheran 
and  German  Reformed  churches  in  the  United  States 
will  ever  join  in  said  union,  and  that  the  only  conse- 
quence would  be  the  establishment  of  a  new  sect  in 
the  States  ;  and  they  fraternally  and  affectionately  ad- 
vised them  to  enter  into  union  either  with  the  Lutheran 
or  the  German  Reformed  church. 

The  history  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  United 


924  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

States  does  not  afford  another  example  of  an  equally 
rapid  progress  of  a  Synod,  than  is  exhibited  in  the  ex- 
ertions of  our  brethren  in  the  West ;  six  ministers  uni- 
ted in  one  ecclesiastical  body  in  1835,  and  in  the 
space  of  six  years  the  number  of  ministers  and  licen- 
tiates amounted  to  23.  May  the  blessing  of  ;he  Lord 
also  in  future  crown  the  labors  of  our  brethren ! 

SYNOD  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 
The  brethren  of  this  Synod  having  felt  in  their  afflic- 
tions, occasioned  by  the  breach  in  their  ranks,  through 
the  unchristian  conduct  of  one  man,  perhaps  more 
than  others,  that  the  establishment  of  a  Synod  of  ad- 
vice was  necessary  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole  church, 
manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  formation  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod,  as  well  as  in  the  establishment  of  the  Sem- 
inary at  Gettysburg.  The  brethren  laboring  in  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  had  since  the  formation  of  the 
Synod  of  North  Carolina,  generally  attended  the  an- 
nual sessions  of  this  ecclesiastical  body ;  but  as  a  new 
Synod  was  established  in  the  former  State  in  1824, 
the  ministers  of  South  Carolina  asked  and  obtained 
dismission  from  the  Synod  with  which  they  had  been 
hitherto  connected  ;  consequently  the  number  of  Lu- 
theran ministers  attached  to  the  North  Carolina  Synod 
was  small.  In  1827  there  were  thirty- four  churches 
in  connexion  with  Synod,  attended  by  thirteen  minis- 
ters. In  1830  the  church  sMffered  a  great  loss  in  the 
departure  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Augustus  Gottlieb 
Storck,  whom  the  Lord  called  to  his  rest  March  27th. 
Of  his  labors  we  have  given  a  brief  account  during  the 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  225 

period  of  our  brother's  greatest  activity,  from  which  it 
is  apparent,  that  his  favorite  occupation  was,  to  labor 
for  the  salvation  of  immortal  souls  and  for  the  exten- 
sion of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  His  missionary 
tours  in  South  Carolina  are  still  held  in  grateful  re- 
membrance by  many,  who  through  his  instrumentality 
were  first  brought  from  darkness  unto  light,  and  from 
the  kingdom  of  Satan  unto  the  living  God.  This  was 
also  the  case  in  those  congregations,  over  which  the 
Lord  had  appointed  him  shepherd.  The  larger  number 
of  those,  for  whom  he  was  the  instrument  of  salvation, 
have  met  him  in  the  realms  of  bliss,  many  however, 
still  bless  his  memory  in  the  land  of  the  living,  because 
the  Lord  enlightened  them  through  the  instrumentality 
of  his  servant.  As  a  man  of  science,  he  was  highly 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  in  that  respect.  As 
minister  of  the  gospel  he  richly  possessed  the  rare 
talent,  to  create  a  deep  interest  for  his  subject  in 
the  well  informed,  while  he  was  fully  understood  by 
persons  of  no  education.  As  friend,  husband  and  fa- 
ther, his  remembrance  will  be  cherished,  blessed  and 
honored,  so  long  as  one  friend  and  one  child  lives, 
to  feel,  what  he  was  to  them  in  these  capacities  in 
life.  During  the  last  six  years  of  his  earthly  existence, 
bodily  infirmities  prevented  him  from  attending  the 
service  in  the  house  of  God,  but  still  he  cheerfully  em- 
braced every  opportunity  to  counsel  and  comfort  the 
afflicted. 

During  his  last  illness,  which  continued  for  nine 
weeks,  he  frequently  gave,  both  to  his  family  and  vis- 
iting friends,  the  assurance  of  his  firm  hope  of  eternal 
20 


226         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

life,  and  of  his  desire,  that  true  piety  and  the  religion  of 
the  heart  might  become  general  among  mankind,  and 
especially,  that  these  blessings  might  be  universal  in 
the  churches,  to  whom  he  had  administered  the  word 
of  life.  He  departed  as  stated,  March  the  27th,  1830, 
in  the  67th  year  of  his  life,  full  of  faith  and  hope  in  his 
Redeemer. 

Concerning  the  spiritual  state  of  the  churches  under 
the  care  of  this  Synod,  the  President  Rev.  Mr.  Grae- 
ber,  expresses  himself  in  his  Report  of  1834,  as  fol- 
lows :  "  The  events  of  the  past  Synodical  year  are  in 
some  measure  more  encouraging  than  they  have  been 
for  several  years  before.  Those  churches  in  our  con- 
nexion, that  could  be  regularly  supplied,  have  not  on- 
ly considerably  increased  in  numbers,  since  our  last 
annual  meeting,  but  are  also  generally  in  a  prosperous 
condition.  Several  conferences  and  many  prayer-mee- 
tings have  been  held  in  different  places ;  and  under 
these  solemn  exercises  we  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve, that  sinners  were  awakened,  and  believers  edi- 
fied. Sunday  schools  are  receiving  more  general  at- 
tention than  heretofore."  During  the  same  session  of 
Synod  a  committee  was  appointed,  the  Rev.  William 
JlrtZj  chairman,  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  es- 
tablishing a  Theological  Institution  within  the  bounds 
of  Synod.  The  report  of  said  committee  laid  before 
the  brethren  in  Synod  assembled  in  1835,  is  substan- 
tially as  follows  :  "  The  establishment  of  an  Institution 
for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry  is  not 
only  expedient  but  highly  necessary,  and  the  opinion  of 
the  committee  is,  that  the  manual  labor  plan  will  sue- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          227 

ceed  best  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  prove  more 
suitable  to  the  means  at  command  than  any  other." 
A  committee  of  six  was  chosen  to  collect  all  the  infor- 
mation on  the  important  subject  that  could  be  obtained, 
to  carry  the  plan  into  speedy  and  successful  opera- 
tion. In  1836  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hazelius  and  Mr.  Henry 
Muller  attended  the  meeting  of  Synod  as  commission- 
ers of  the  S.  C.  Synod,  to  propose  a  union  of  effort  in 
sustaining  the  Theological  Seminary  established  at 
Lexington,  S.  C.  The  brethren  Rev.  Jacob  Sherer, 
Rev.  Henry  Graeber,  Rev.  Daniel  Jenkins,  Col.  John 
Smith  and  Mr.  John  Hottel,  were  appointed  on  the 
part  of  the  North  Carolina  Synod  to  confer  with  the 
brethren  from  South  Carolina  on  the  important  subject 
of  their  mission,  who  reported,  that  the  following- 
propositions  had  been  laid  before  them  by  the  South 
Carolina  commissioners  to  wit: 

1.  "  The  Synod  of  S.  Carolina  allows  that  of  North 
Carolina  such  a  share  in  the  government  of  the  insti- 
tution established  at  Lexington,  as  their  proportion 
of  funds  shall  equitably  entitle  them.  2.  The  stu- 
dents from  North  Carolina,  that  enter  the  Seminary, 
shall  be  entitled  to  free  tuition  as  well  as  the  students 
from  South  Carolina.  3.  The  funds,  collected  by  our 
brethren  of  North  Carolina,  shall  remain  under  the 
control  of  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina,  its  yearly  pro- 
ceeds or  interest  only  are  to  be  made  over  to  the  Treas- 
urer of  our  Seminary.  Having  heard  the  constitution 
read,  and  having  been  made  acquainted  with  the 
course  of  studies  pursued  in  said  Seminary,  the  com- 
mittee recommended  the  appointment  of  two  Delegates 


228  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

one  clerical  and  one  lay  delegate,  to  meet  the  Synod 
of  South  Carolina  at  its  session  in  November  next, 
with  instructions  from  this  body,  to  unite  our  efforts 
with  our  brethren  of  South  Carolina  in  the  support  of 
their  Seminary.  This  report  being  unanimously  adop- 
ted, the  Rev.  President  William  J^rtz  and  Col.  John 
Smith  were  chosen  Delegates  to  the  S^nod  of  South 
Carolina.  A  committee  was  then  further  appointed  to 
prepare  instructions  for  the  Delegates ;  each  minister 
was  constituted  an  agent  to  solicit  and  raise  all  the  con- 
tributions he  can,  at  home  and  abroad  for  said  ob- 
jects; and  finally,  said  agents  were  requested,  to  report 
to  the  Delegates  aforesaid,  wha-t  sum  may  have  been 
raised  or  secured  for  the  Seminary.  During  the  ses- 
sion of  1837  the  Rev.  President  reported,  that  he 
had  discharged  his  commission,  in  meeting  the  breth- 
ren of  the  Synod  of  South  Carolina,  and  that  in  addi- 
tion to  the  propositions  laid  before  Synod  at  its  last 
annual  session,  the  Synod  of  South  Carolina  had  agreed 
to  the  following :  "  That  no  business  of  any  kind  con- 
nected with  the  interests  of  the  Seminary  shall  be  trans- 
acted by  the  Board  of  Directors,  or  by  any  portion  of 
the  Board,  until  the  Directors  residing  in  North  Caro- 
lina shall  have  been  advised  of  the  nature  of  such  bus- 
iness, and  their  opinion  obtained  in  writing  ;  and  also, 
that  no  important  change  shall  be  made  in  the  statutes 
and  government  of  the  Seminary,  even  should  the  Di- 
rectors in  North  Carolina  agree  to  such  alterations, 
until  the  sense  of  the  Synod  in  that  State  shall  be 
known ;  and  finally,  that  the  right  be  conceded  to  the 
two  Synods  respectively,  to  rescind  this  agreement  and 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          229 

annul  the  obligations,  growing  out  of  the  same,  when- 
ever in  the  opinion  of  either  body,  such  a  dissolution 
is  advisable.  These  conditions  of  agreement  the  Syn- 
od approved,  and  resolved,  that  this  body  regard  the 
institution  of  the  South  of  so  vast  importance  to  the 
whole  Lutheran  Zion,  as  to  claim  the  united  patronage 
and  liberality  of  all  our  people,  and  that  this  Synod 
regard  it  as  necessary  to  the  future  welfare  of  our 
churches,  that  the  students  of  Divinity,  coming  forth 
from  the  churches  under  the  care  of  this  body,  prose- 
cute their  studies  at  this  Seminary. 

Thus  the  union  between  the  North  and  South  Car- 
olina Synods  for  the  joint  support  of  the  Southern  Sem- 
inary was  happily  accomplished,  and  has  to  mutual 
satisfaction  continued  ever  since. 

In  1838  it  pleased  the  Lord,  to  release  his  servant, 
the  Rev.  Gottlieb  Schober,  from  the  trials  of  an  active 
and  useful  life.  Since  1810  our  brother  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  one  of  its  preach- 
ers in  connexion  with  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina; 
for  several  years  he  served  as  Secretary  of  Synod,  and 
by  the  partiality  of  his  brethren  had  been  elected 
through  several  successive  terms  President  of  that  ec- 
clesiastical bocly,  and  for  one  term  he  was  President  of 
the  General  Synod;  the  church,  its  benevolent  societies, 
especially  the  education  and  Sunday  school  cause, 
have  lost  in  him  a  liberal  and  efficient  member  and 
supporter.  For  the  last  years  of  his  life  his  health  and 
native  vigor  of  mind  had  been  rapidly  declining ;  but 
his  departure  was  nevertheless  sudden  and  unexpected, 
having  been  confined  but  one  day.  He  left  his  fami* 
20* 


$30  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    OHURCIf. 

ly  and  friends,  June  29th,  1838,  in  the  82d  year  of  his 
pilgrimage. 

In  the  report  of  Rev.  William  Artz,  President  of 
Synod  in  1840,  the  state  of  the  church  is  briefly  allu- 
ded to  in  the  following  extract :  "  During  the  past 
Synodical  year  our  ministers  have  felt  more  than  ever 
the  responsibility  of  their  office,  and  have  labored 
faithfully  in  their  master's  work.  The  church  is  in- 
creasing, her  institutions  flourishing  and  her  prospects 
brightening."  May  the  Lord  continue  to  bless  the  la- 
bors of  our  Brethren  in  that  State,  and  may  the  church- 
es committed  to  their  care  continue  to  grow  in  grace 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Savior  Jesus  Christ. 

The  ministers  who  live  in  the  South-western  part  of 
Virginia,  and  who  found  it  difficult  on  account  of  dis- 
tance regularly  to  attend  the  sessions  of  the  Synod, 
with  which  they  stood  connected,  have  in  1841  held  a 
convention,  in  which  the  expediency  was  discussed 
of  forming  a  new  Synod.  The  question  was  decided 
in  the  affirmative  ;  the  new  Synod  is  to  be  known  un- 
der the  title :  "  The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of 
the  Western  parts  of  Virginia"  The  brethren  Jacob 
and  Gideon  Sherer,  Elijah  Hawkins,  John  J.  Greever 
and  Jacob  Miller,  constitute  at  present  the  members 
of  this  New  Synod. 

SYNOD  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA  AND  GEORGIA. 

The  records  of  this  body  commence  with  the  year 

1824.     Previous  to  that  period,  the  ministers  laboring 

in  the  interior  of  the  State  were  in  connexion  with  the 

Synod  of  North  Carolina,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bachman  Pas- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  231 

tor  of  the  church  in  Charleston,  with  the  Synod  of 
New  York,  and  the  church  at  Eben  Ezer  still  retained 
its  union  with  the  churches  in  Germany,  whence  they 
had  hitherto  been  supplied  with  ministers.  In  1824 
the  Synod  was  formed  under  the  title  :  "  The  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Synod  of  South  Carolina  and  adjacent 
States"  The  Rev.  Godfrey  Dreher  was  elected  its 
first  President,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hosher  Secretary. 

The  next  following  year  Rev.  Dr.  Bachman  of 
Charleston  united  with  the  new  ecclesiastical  body.  In 
the  year  1830  the  association  consisted  of  7  ordained 
ministers  and  five  licentiates.  As  early  as  the  year 
1829  preparatory  measures  had  been  taken  for  the  for- 
mation of  a  Theological  Seminary.  The  reasons  in  fa- 
vor of  this  measure  are  given  in  the  report  of  Rev.  Pres- 
ident Bachman,  as  follows :  After  having  stated  the 
inadequacy  of  ministerial  supplies  within  the  bounds 
of  Synod,  he  says:  u  We  have  applied  to  our  sister 
Synods  in  vain  for  aid.  So  wide  a  field  is  opened  to 
them  in  the  North  and  West,  that  they  have  no  minis- 
ters to  send  us,  and  it  is  believed,  that  our  only  per- 
manent dependence  under  the  blessing  of  God,  will  be 
upon  pious  individuals,  who  will  hereafter  be  educated 
for  our  church ;  who  are  natives  of  the  States  within 
the  bounds  of  our  Synod,  and  who  are  attached  to  our 
institutions  and  accustomed  to  our  climate."  In  con- 
sequence of  the  recommendation  of  the  Rev.  President, 
measures  were  adopted  by  Synod  for  the  formation  of 
a  Theological  Seminary.  In  1829  a  committee  was 
appointed,  to  raise  funds  for  this  object ;  and  in  1830 
the  following  resolution  was  passed :  Resolved,  "That 


232          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

in  humble  reliance  on  the  Divine  blessing  we  now  es- 
tablish a  Theological  Seminary,  to  be  conducted  under 
the  auspices  of  this  Synod,  and  that  we  by  this  resolu- 
tion do  consecrate  our  efforts  to  Him,  who  is  the  great 
head  of  the  church,  the  shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our 
souls,  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever."  At  the  same 
time  Synod  also  resolved,  to  connect  a  classical  school 
with  the  institution,  to  elect  a  Board  of  Directors  con- 
sisting of  ten  members,  a  Treasurer  and  a  Professor  of 
Theology.  The  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
were,  Rev.  John  BacJunan,  Rev.  Godfried  Dreher, 
Rev.  W.  D.  Strobel,  Rev.  Stephen  A.  Mealy,  Rev.  C. 
F.  Bergman,  Col.  J.  Eigleberger,  Col.  West  Cough- 
man,  Mr.  Henry  Muller,  Mr.  Henry  Horlbeck,  Major 
Swygert.  Mr.  Henry  Muller  was  elected  Treasurer, 
and  the  Rev.  John  G.  Schwartz,  Professor  of  Theolo- 
gy. The  permanent  location  of  the  institution  wras  yet 
postponed,  and  the  Professor  elect  gave  notice,  that 
for  the  present  he  Avould  attend  at  his  residence  near 
Col.  Eigleberger's,  ten  miles  irorri  Newberry  Court- 
house, to  the  instruction  of  such  Theological  students, 
from  February  1st,  1831,  as  may  have  been  approved 
by  the  standing  committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors; 
also,  that  four  or  five  young  gentlemen,  who  may  be 
desirous  of  pursuing  a  course  of  classical  study,  may 
receive  every  requisite  attention  upon  moderate  terms. 
While  engaged  in  this  important  enterprise,  the 
brethren  did  not  neglect  the  members  of  the  church, 
scattered  in  different  portions  of  the  State.  The  Rev. 
William  D.  Strobel  was  engaged  by  Synod  to  labor 
as  Missionary  during  the  S^nodical  year  1829-' 30 ; 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          233 

and  it  appears  from  his  report,*  that  his  exertions  were 
blessed  by  the  head  of  the  church.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Schwartz  was  engaged  by  the  society  for  the  promo- 
tion of  religion  in  South  Carolina  and  adjacent  States, 
to  attend  to  the  churches  of  Bethlehem,  St.  Luke  and 
St.  Matthew,  in  Newberry,  and  St.  Mark's  in  Edge- 
field.  His  labors  were  eminently  blessed,  and  our 
brother  enjoyed  the  full  confidence  of  the  members  of 
these  churches.  But  his  career  was  to  be  short ;  for 
wise  purposes,  to  us  unknown,  the  Lord  called  his 
young  servant  away  in  the  midst  of  his  useful  labors. 
In  the  summer  of  1831  he  was  seized  with  a  violent 
fever,  which  at  first  appearance  seemed  to  yield  to  the 
influence  of  medicine,  but  returning  with  increased 
severity,  put  relief  beyond  the  power  of  human  means, 
and  on  the  26th  of  August  it  terminated  his  valuable 
life,  having  just  reached  the  24th  year  of  his  age. 

The  Rev.  John  G.  Schwartz  was  born  in  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  in  the  year  1807,  where  he  also  received  the 
preliminary  part  of  his  education.  Afterwards  he  be- 
came an  alumnus  of  the  South  Carolina  College  at 
Columbia,  where  he  graduated  with  distinguished  ho- 
nor in  December,  1826.  On  his  return  to  Charleston 
he  commences!  the  study  of  Theology  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bachman.  In  1828  he  was 
elected  junior  Professor  of  languages  in  the  Charleston 
college.  But  desirous  of  serving  the  Lord  as  a  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  he  freely  surrendered  his  present  ad- 
vantages as  well  as  his  fair  temporal  prospects  of  the 
future,  and  engaged  as  a  missionary  among  the  desti- 

*See  minutes  of  Synod,  1830. 


234  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

tute  churches  in  the  interior  of  South  Carolina.  In 
1830  he  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  Synod  as 
Professor  of  Theology  in  the  new  institution  of  South 
Carolina.  His  friend  and  instructor,  Rev.  Dr.  Bach- 
man,  in  drawing  an  outline  of  his  character,  says: — 
"  One  great  peculiarity  in  Mr.  Schwartz,  consisted  in 
a  well  regulated  mind.  His  feelings,  though  warm, 
were  under  the  control  of  his  judgment.  He  loved 
study,  but  wras  also  an  interesting  companion  in  so- 
ciety. His  mind  was  harmonious,  and  from  his 
looks  and  demeanor  one  could  discover,  that  it  was 
at  all  times  under  a  religious  influence.  His  last 
hours  were  in  correspondence  to  that  influence. — 
One  evening  late  he  called  the  students  into  his  room, 
and  after  one  of  them  had  read  a  chapter  out  of  the 
Bible,  he  prayed  in  his  bed  with  a  loud  voice,  for  near- 
ly half  an  hour.  To  his  physician  he  observed  :  "  See, 
Doctor,  how  much  better  it  is,  to  make  our  peace  with 
God  in  the  time  of  health,  than  to  wait,  till  we  are 
laid  on  a  bed  of  sickness ;  for  repentance  on  a  sick 
bed  is  seldom  of  any  avail."  His  mind  was  calm, 
cool  and  deliberate,  throughout  his  painful  illness, 
particularly  so,  a  few  moments  before  he  died,  when 
he  said:  "I  shall  shortly  enjoy  the  blessed  light  of 
heaven,  happiness  and  immortality. — I  am  not  afraid 
to  die,  for  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  He 
expired  without  a  struggle  and  without  a  groan,  hav- 
ing the  faculties  of  mind  and  speech  to  the  last." 

During  the  same  year  the  church  was  bereft  of  the 
services  of  another  one  of  her  sons,  who  had  promised 
to  be  a  bright  and  shining  light,  and  who  in  the  short 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          235 

course  of  his  ministry,  had  been  instrumental  in  lead- 
ing many  to  that  knowledge,  which  our  Redeemer 
terms  "  everlasting  life."  The  Rev.  President  of  Syn- 
od remarks  in  his  report  of  1831  :  "  Mr.  Wingart  had 
but  recently  returned  from  the  Theological  institution 
at  Gettysburg,  where  he  had  been  highly  respected  for 
his  talents,  his  piety  and  worth.  But  his  friends  be- 
held with  anxiety  and  sorrow,  that  his  constitution, 
which  had  never  been  strong,  had  been  attacked  by 
an  insidious  disease  ;  but  trusting  to  that  heavenly 
physician,  who  is  able  to  restore  health  and  vigor  to 
the  deceased  frame  and  cheer  the  drooping  hopes  of 
man,  we  still  looked  forward  to  the  time,  when  his 
recovery  would  restore  him  to  usefulness  in  the  church, 
and  by  our  advice  he  was  solemnly  ordained  and  set 
apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  But  on  the  14th 
day  of  January  last,  the  God,  whom  he  loved  to  serve, 
and  in  whose  cause  he  had  spent  the  whole  of  his 
short  life,  summoned  him  away.  Mr.  Wingart  was  a 
young  man  of  uncommon  attainments,  considering  the 
disadvantages,  under  which  he  had  labored  in  his 
youth,  for  the  want  of  a  systematic  education.  He 
was  in  most  cases  his  own  instructor,  every  leisure 
hour,  that  could  be  spared  from  those  occupations,  in 
which  he  was  necessarily  engaged,  was  devoted  to 
books  ;  and  all  his  reading  and  study  had  for  its  object 
the  promotion  of  his  Savior's  religion.  For  this  ob- 
ject he  left  his  peaceful  home,  and  devoted  himself  to 
solitude  and  study  in  a  distant  part  of  our  land.  Here 
he  was  attacked  by  a  disease,  which  he  bore  with 
Christian  resignation.  When  he  was  summoned  away, 


236  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

he  appeared  stiU  at  the  post  of  duty,  and  meekly  re- 
signed himself  to  the  will  of  God,  trusting  through 
the  mercy  of  his  Savior  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul, 
and  the  joys  of  heaven." 

Preparatory  steps  for  the  adoption  of  several  impor- 
tant measures  were  taken  during  these  sessions  of 
Synod ;  among  which  were  recommendations  for  the 
more  general  introduction  of  Sunday  schools,  the  adop- 
tion of  the  plan  of  church  discipline,  as  published  by 
the  General  Synod,  the  resolutions,  respecting  the 
constitution  of  the  Institution,  and  that  no  demands  be 
made  on  the  Seminary,  till  the  sum  of  $  10,000  shall 
have  been  realized ;  that  protracted  meetings  should 
be  continued  to  be  held,  whenever  a  fifth  Sunday  shall 
occur  in  the  month,  that  the  permanent  location  of  the 
Seminary  be  deferred  till  the  next  meeting  of  the  Syn- 
od, and  that  during  its  recess  the  Board  of  Directors 
ascertain,  which  of  any  two  places  selected,  will  hold 
out  the  greatest  inducements  for  the  establishment  of 
the  institution  in  that  place,  and  finally,  that  Lexing- 
ton village  and  Sandy  Run,  the  latter  comprising  a 
circuit  of  from  one  to  two  miles  from  the  church,  be 
the  places  designated  in  the  last  mentioned  resolution. 
At  the  meeting  of  Synod  in  1832  the  members  were 
again  called  upon  to  mourn  over  the  departure  of  two 
valuable  servants  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  The 
Rev.  C.  F.  Bergman,  Pastor  of  the  church  at  Eben 
Ezer,  Georgia,  and  the  Rev.  Daniel  Dreher,  licentiate 
of  the  ministry. 

Christopher  F.    Bergman  was  born  at  Eben  Ezer, 
January  7,  1793.    His  father,  the  Rev.  John  E.  Berg- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          237 

man,  born  and  educated  in  Germany,  had  been  sent 
to  Georgia  by  the  friends  of  the  Salzburg  emigrants  in 
the  Father-land,  as  successor  of  their  departed  pastor 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Rabenhorst.  For  thirty-six  years  Mr. 
Bergman  the  elder,  spoke  the  word  of  life  to  the  Eben 
Ezer  congregation.  The  subject  of  these  brief  memoirs 
was  the  only  son  of  his  father,  and  from  him  he  recei- 
ved his  education  and  direction  in  his  studies.  In  the 
year  1824,  while  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bachman  was  endea- 
voring to  restore  life  and  vigor  into  the  old  Lutheran 
church  in  Savannah,  and  inducting  Rev.  Stephen  A. 
Mealy  into  the  pastoral  office  in  that  city,  he  also  ex- 
tended his  visit  to  Eben  Ezer,  and  prevailed  on  the 
young  brother,  to  devote  himself  to  the  ministry  in  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  to  fulfil  the  wishes  of  the  con- 
gregation to  become  the  successor  of  his  father,  who 
was  fast  sinking  into  the  grave.  At  the  Synod  of  1824 
Mr.  Bergman  was  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try by  the  imposition  of  hands.  For  this  office  he  was 
well  qualified ;  for  he  brought  to  the  church  a  store  of 
learning  as  well  as  of  piety.  His  life  was  most  exem- 
plary, and  the  sphere  of  his  usefulness  was  daily  in- 
creasing. From  the  time  of  his  ordination  until  his 
last  appearance  in  Synod,  which  was  in  1830,  he  was 
annually  and  unanimously  elected  Secretary  of  Synod. 
He  died,  as  he  had  lived, — meek,  humble,  patient, 
resigned,  full  of  hope  and  confidence.  To  a  visiting 
friend,  who  had  asked  him,  whether,  if  it  was  the  di- 
vine will,  he  would  not  wish  to  be  spared  a  little  lon- 
ger to  his  dear  family  and  congregation,  he  replied : 
"If  it  is  the  divine  will,  I  would  rather  go  now, — I 
21 


238         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

feel,  that  for  me  to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ  is  far 
better — I  think,  I  can  truly  say,  for  me,  to  live  is 
Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain."  On  being  asked,  whether 
he  had  any  doubts  of  his  acceptance  with  God  through 
Christ  ?  he  replied :  "  None.  Blessed  be  the  God  and 
Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  have  no  doubts." 
About  two  o'clock,  A.  M.,  March  25th,  he  desired 
the  ministering  brother  to  pray  with  him,  and  he  dis- 
tinctly though  feebly  repeated  almost  every  word,  and 
concluded  the  prayer  with  "  Jlmen"  After  a  little 
while  he  pressed  the  brother's  hand  and  said  louder 
than  he  had  yet  spoken :  "Farewell."  He  now  re- 
peated the  last  lines  of  the  beautiful  verse:  "Vital  spark 
of  heavenly  flame,  &c. 

Cease,  fond  nature,  cease  thy  strife, 
And  let  me  languish  into  life." 

These  were  his  last  words,  and  a  quarter  before  three 
in  the  morning  he  ceased  to  breathe — the  agony  was 
passed  and  his  liberated  spirit  departed  to  the  Lord, 
who  gave  it. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Dreher,  son  of  Mr.  John  Dreher, 
of  Lexington  District,  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  the 
advice  and  instruction  of  pious  parents  during  his 
childhood  and  years  of  his  youth,  and  by  that  instru- 
mentality the  Lord  directed  him  early  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  his  sinful  nature,  the  need  of  a  Savior,  and  to 
Jesus  the  friend  of  repenting  sinners,  whose  merits  he 
embraced,  through  faith  in  application  to  his  own  soul. 
Having  found  Jesus  precious,  and  the  rock,  on  which 
he  had  built  the  house  of  his  hope,  he  became  anxious 
to  recommend  him  also  unto  others.  Having  given 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          239 

some  attention  to  the  study  of  Divinity  under  the  di- 
rection of  his  elder  brother,  the  Rev.  Godfrey  Dreher, 
he  was  received  by  Synod  as  licentiate.  He  was  an 
acceptable  and  zealous  preacher,  and  his  remembrance 
is  cherished  by  all  who  enjoyed  his  acquaintance.  He 
departed  in  hope  of  eternal  life. 

During  the  recess  of  Synod,  the  Directors  elected 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hazelius,  of  Gettysburg,  Professor  of 
Theology  in  the  Southern  Seminary,  the  permanent 
location  of  which  h^d  been  fixed  in  the  village  of  Lex- 
ington. At  the  session  of  1833  the  Professor  elect  was 
received  with  affection  and  kindness  by  the  brethren. 
The  Rev.  Washington  Muller,  licentiate  of  the  minis- 
try,-was  chosen  Principal  of  the  classical  school. — 
Both  institutions  \yent  into  operation  the  first  Monday 
of  January,  1834.  Since  that  time  to  the  centenary 
year  the  institution  has  given  the  church  twenty-one 
ministers,  who  are  now  engaged  in  various  portions  of 
our  land  proclaiming  unto  the  people,  that  through 
repentance  and  faith  they  may  obtain  the  forgiveness 
of  sins,  justification  before  God,  and  the  hope  of  eter- 
nal life,  and  we  trust,  that  the  blessing  of  God  is  rest-  * 
ing  upon  their  labors.  Seven  students  are  now  in  the 
Seminary  and  the  classical  institute,  preparing  to  fol- 
low their  brethren  in  the  field  of  labor. 

,  The  session  of  this  Synod  \vas  marked  by  another 
important  act,  viz :  The  final  resolution  of  this  body 
to  unite  with  the  General  Synod  of  the  American  Lu- 
theran church.  The  report  on  that  subject,  as  pas- 
sed by  Synod,*  was  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote. — 
*See  minutes  of  Synod  for  1833,  page  12. 


240  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

Synod  having  hitherto  in  a  great  measure  been  gov- 
erned by  certain  standing  resolutions,  and  when  these 
were  found  insufficient,  by  the  constitution  of  the  Syn- 
od of  New  York,  considering  it  necessary,  to  have  its 
own  constitution  in  every  respect,  a  committee  consist- 
ing of  Mr.  Hazelius,  Dreher  and  Hope  was  appointed 
to  draft  a  constitution  for  the  government  of  this  Syn- 
od, to  be  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  this  body 
at  its  next  session.*  This  constitution  was  adopted  in 
1834.  Rev.  Mr.  Rizer  having  received  an  appoint- 
ment from  the  committee  on  missions  to  labor  in  the 
States  of  Georgia  and  Alabama,  entered  upon  the  du- 
ties of  his  appointment  early  in  December  and  contin- 
ued the  same  till  the  close  of  April,  1834.  In  his  re- 
port the  State  of  Alabama  is  represented  as  a  wide 
field  of  labor.  On  Mr.  Rizer's  return  Mr.  Harris  offer- 
ed his  services  in  the  same  capacity,  and  was  instruc- 
ted to  confine  his  labors  to  Monroeville  and  Flatt 
creek  in  Monroe  county,  and  Boque  Chitto  creek, 

*  In  the  minutes  of  1833  it  is  further  stated,  that  the  plan  of 
a  constitution,  prepared  some  years  ago  "by  a  committee  designa- 
ted for  that  special  purpose,  be  the  basis  of  such  constitution, 
and  that  the  committee  cause  a  copy  of  said  manuscript  to  be  sent 
to  each  minister  of  our  Synod  at  least  two  months  before  the  meeting 
of  the  next  Synod.  This  last  underlined  part  of  the  resolution 
was  not  executed  for  the  following  two  reasons:  1.  The  chairman 
of  the  committee  could  not  prevail  on  Rev.  Mr.  G.  Dreher,  to 
attend  during  spring  and  summer  ;  and  2.  On  account  of  the  pro- 
tracted illness  of  the  chairman.  Mr.  Dreher  knows,  that  the 
manuscript  copy  was  finished  a  few  days  previous  to  the  session 
of  Synod,  that  the  chairman  read  it  to  him  at  his,  the  chairman's, 
house,  and  that  Mr.  Dreher  there  signed  it  as  member  of  that 
Committee, 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  241 

Dallas  county ;  the  result  of  these  labors  appeared  fa- 
vorable, and  Mr.  Harris  finally  settled  among  these 
distant  brethren  as  Pastor. 

One  aged  brother  in  the  ministry,  the  Rev.  Mr.  J. 
Y.  Meetze,  departed  this  life,  May  7th,  1833,  in  the 
77th  year  of  his  life.  The  Rev.  President  remarks  in 
his  address :  "  Mr.  Meetze  had  been  longer  in  the 
ministry,  than  any  of  the  brethren  now  before  me,  with 
one  exception,  and  I  need  not  add  in  the  presence  of 
those  who  knew  him  long,  and  who  knew  him  well, 
that  through  the  course  of  his  long  life  he  uniformly 
adorned  the  doctrines  he  preached,  by  zeal,  fidelity, 
meekness,  charity,  and  all  those  virtues,  that  are  so 
essential  to  the  character  of  the  Christian  minister. — 
But  we  ought  not  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  servant  of 
God,  whom  he  preserved  so  long  in  his  vineyard, — 
who  was  only  removed,  when  his  usefulness  was  at  an 
end,  when  life  had  become  a  burden,  and  when  he 
longed  to  be  with  his  Savior." 

In  1835,  Synod  resolved,  "that both  ministers  and 
lay  delegates  be  requested  to  ascertain  the  sense  of  our 
congregations  in  regard  to  a  church  convention,  for 
the  purpose  of  dividing  our  territory  in  suitable  min- 
isterial Districts,  to  examine  the  discipline  now  par- 
tially received,  and  to  adopt  one,  in  every  respect 
suitable  to  our  situation  and  circumstances."  In  1836 
this  important  subject  coming  again  before  Synod,  it 
was  resolved, ."  that  the  resolution  of  last  Synod  con- 
cerning the  calling  of  a  church  convention,  be  left  for 
one  year  longer  to  the  consideration  of  our  churches, 
and  that  the  Rev.  President  be  requested,  to  prepare 


242          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

and  send  a  circular  to  all  the  congregations,  so  that  at 
the  next  meeting  of  Synod,  we  may  have  the  opinion 
of  all  our  churches  on  that  subject."  The  circular  of 
the  Rev.  President,  having  been  laid  before  the  church- 
es, and  the  lay  delegates  at  the  session  of  Synod  1837 
having  stated,  that  the  churches  generally  were  in  fa- 
vor of  a  convention  for  the  specified  purposes,  it  was 
resolved  that  the  convention  should  meet  at  St.  Mat- 
thew's church,  Orangeburg  District,  March  2d,  1838; 
that  each  congregation,  numbering  less  than  one  hun- 
dred communicant  members,  should  be  entiled  to  one 
Delegate,  all  over  one  hundred  and  under  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  to  two,  and  all  over  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  to  3  ;  further,  that  all  ordained  ministers,  as  well 
as  licentiates,  who  have  charge  of  churches,  be  mem- 
bers of  said  convention.  In  pursuance  of  the  arrange- 
ments contained  in  the  above  resolution,  the  churches 
elected  their  respective  delegates  in  due  form  and 
time,  and  convention  met  as  agreed  upon.  A  commit- 
tee was  chosen  to  revise  and  remodel  the  formula  of 
church  government  and  discipline  hitherto  partially 
adopted,  and  to  lay  their  labors  before  the  convention. 
This  being  done,  the  new  formula  was  read,  carefully 
discussed,  altered  and  adopted  by  paragraphs ;  and 
when  the  vote  was  put  upon  its  final  passage,  it  was 
carried  by  a  unanimous  voice  and  signed  by  all  the 
members.  It  was  now,  agreeably  to  a  previous  un- 
derstanding, the  duty  of  every  minister,  to  bring  this 
formula,  proceeding  from  the  representatives  "of  the 
whole  church  in  connexion  with  our  Synod,  be- 
fore each  individual  congregation,  for  their  considera- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  243 

tion,  adoption  or  rejection.  It  appeared  from  the 
reports  of  the  ministers  and  churches,  that  were  laid 
before  Synod,  that  this  formula  of  government  and 
discipline  has  been  approved  by  the  congregations 
generally,  and  adopted  by  them.*  These  proceedings 
having  been  laid  before  Synod  by  the  Rev.  President 
in  his  annual  address,  the  committee  to  whom  this  por- 
tion thereof  had  been  referred,  reported  as  follows  : — 
"The  subject  of  the  church  discipline,  as  brought  to 
view  in  the  President's  address,  demands  the  serious 
and  prayerful  consideration  of  this  body.  As  far  as 
those  congregations  are  concerned,  that  are  governed 
by  a  charter  or  corporation,  your  committee  are  of  opin- 
ion, that  the  formula  never  was  intended  to  operate, 
and  in  fact  cannot  operate  upon  those,  who  are  merely 
members  of  the  corporation,  and  have  not  connected 
themselves  with  the  church,  by  a  public  profession  of 
religion.  This  formula  was  intended  for  the  govern- 
ment and  discipline  of  our  communing  members  only, 
and  as  far  as  they  are  concerned,  your  committee  rec- 
ommend, that  the  formula  be  adhered  to  throughout 
the  whole  bounds  of  our  Synod.  2.  Your  committee 
recommend,  that  as  a  final  ratification  of  formula,  it  be 
prepared  for  the  press,  and  be  published  in  connexion 
with  part  of  our  Liturgy,  the  constitution  of  Synod 
and  the  Doctrinal  articles  of  the  Augsburg  confession, 
with  short  explanatory  notes.  This  report  was  unan- 
imously adopted,  and  thus  the  labors  of  the  conven- 
tion were  received  by  the  church  in  connexion  with 

*  For  formula  of  church  government  and  discipline  see  book  of 
Discipline  published  by  order  of  Synod. 


244          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

the  South  Carolina  Synod  as  their  church  discipline 
and  formula  of  church  government." 

April  20th,  1840,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  call  the 
Rev.  David  Hungerpealer,  the  pastor  of  the  churches 
at  the  Saltketchers  and  Shiloh  on  Edisto,  unexpec- 
tedly and  suddenly  from  time  to  eternity.  With  the 
Rev.  President  we  may  say,  that  this  brother  was  sum- 
moned from  his  post  of  duty,  in  the  midst  of  his  im- 
provement, his  activity  and  usefulness.  He  had  been 
for  several  years  a  licentiate  minister  in  our  church  ; 
and  his  walk  and  conversation  were  characterized  by 
great  purity,  meekness  and  humility.  In  his  attention 
to  his  studies  for  the  improvement  of  his  mind,  and  in 
the  discharge  of  his  pastoral  duties  he  evinced  great 
zeal  and  devotedness,  and  was  justly  regarded  as 
a  useful  minister  in  the  sphere  in  which  he  was  called 
to  labor. 

In  regard  to  the  spiritual  state  of  the  church  in  South 
Carolina,  the  Rev.  President  remarks  in  his  report  as 
follows:  "From  the  various  churches  within  the  bounds 
of  this  Synod,  we  have  received  intelligence,  which, 
although  not  of  the  most  encouraging  character,  leaves 
no  room  for  depression.  In  most  of  our  congregations 
valuable  members  have  been  added,  and  in  none,  that 
we  are  aware  of,  have  they  been  diminished :  leaving 
us  the  hope,  that  under  the  blessing  of  God  our  South- 
ern Lutheran  church  is  slowly  on  the  increase." 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.  245 

THE  GENERAL  SYNOD. 

This  body  was  organized  in  1821.  Agreeably  to 
its  constitution  it  is  advisory,  intended  to  cement  the 
union  between  the  different  State  and  District  Synods 
of  the  American  Lutheran  church.  For  fother  partic- 
ulars respecting  all  the  objects  of  its  organization  we 
refer  the  reader  to  its  constitution,  see  Appendix,  page 
• — .  Until  the  year  1830,  the  West  Pennsylvania  Syn- 
od, that  of  Maryland  and  that  of  North  Carolina,  had 
accepted  the  constitution  and  were  acting  under  it. 
In  that  year  however,  the  Hartwick  Synod  united  with 
the  General  Synod;  in  1833  the  Synod  of  South  Car- 
olina. In  1835  the  Synod  of  New  York;  in  1839  the 
Synod  of  Virginia,  in  1841  the  Synod  of  the  West ;  so 
that  eight  of  the  fourteen  State  and  District  Synods 
meet  biennially  to  renew  the  bond  of  brotherly  love 
and  to  devise  such  measures  for  the  consideration  of 
the  respective  ecclesiastical  bodies  as  appear  condu- 
cive to  the  welfare  of  the  whole  as  well  as  that  of  every 
individual  part.  The  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  estab- 
lished by  the  efforts  and  exertions  of  the  ministers  and 
churches  in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  North  Car- 
olina, has  experienced  in  a  peculiar  measure  the  fos- 
tering care  of  the  General  Synod,  for  although  the  con- 
stitution places  the  institution  under  the  government 
of  a  Board  of  Directors  in  no  respect  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  General  Synod,  and  though  by  the  4th  Ar- 
ticle of  said  constitution,  the  several  Synods,  who  are 
connected  writh  the  General  Synod,  and  have  contrib- 
uted pecuniary  aid  to  the  support  of  the  Seminary, 
shall  elect  their  Directors  in  such  a  manner,  as  may 


246  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

be  most  expedient,  by  themselves,  still  this  institution 
is  exclusively  styled  the  Seminary  of  the  General  Syn- 
od ;  and  its  Directors  are  required  to  report  biennially 
the  state  thereof  to  that  ecclesiastical  body,  agreeably 
to  the  constitution  of  said  Seminary.  (Art.  11.) 

Through  the  activity  of  the  General  Synod  several 
Societies  have  sprung  into  existence,  calculated  to 
promote  the  work  of  the  Lord  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  as  well  as  in  the  world  at  large. 
Among  these  societies  we  name,  1.  The  Sunday  school 
union  of  the  Lutheran  church,  auxiliary  to  the  Amer- 
ican Sunday  school  union.  2.  The  Home  Missiona- 
ry Society.  3.  The  German  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
ciety, auxiliary  to  the  American  Foreign  Missionary 
Sociely.  4.  The  General  Education  Society. 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  a  transfer 
of  the  stock  of  the  Book  company  of  the  Lutheran 
church  to  the  Synod  for  benevolent  purposes  was  ef- 
fected ;  and  it  was  resolved,  that  the  appropriations 
should  be  made  in  the  following  manner :  One  third 
to  the  parent  Education  Society,  one  third  for  the  relief 
of  superannuated  ministers  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
their  widows  and  children  in  indigent  circumsta?ices ,  and 
one  third  to  be  disbursed  according  to  the  pleasure  of 
the  Synod  and  the  Board  of  Directors,  jointly ; — at 
the  same  time  a  committee  was  appointed  for  propo- 
sing a  plan  to  raise  sufficient  funds  to  purchase  for  the 
use  of  the  General  Synod  all  the  Stock  of  the  Book 
company,  which  they  may  not  be  able  to  obtain  as  a 
donation. 

As  the  year  1842  will  complete  the  first  century  of 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          247 

the  existence  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  United 
States,  it  was  resolved,  that  the  General  Synod  res- 
pectfully and  earnestly  recommend,  that  a  centenary 
celebration  be  observed  in  all  the  churches,  connected 
with  this  Synod,  to  last  one  year,  commencing  on  Sun- 
day the  31st  of  October,  1841,  and  terminating  on  the 
31st  of  the  same  month  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1842  ; 
and  that  the  leading  object  of  this  celebration  be  the 
promotion  of  the  spiritual  and  temporal  interests  of  our 
Zion,  by  increased  fervor  and  faithfulness  in  prayer, 
close  and  pungent  preaching  of  the  gospel,  frequent 
holding  of  conference  meetings,  and  by  special  and 
systematic  exertions  to  obtain  funds  for  the  support 
of  the  prominent  benevolent  institutions  of  our  church. 
It  was  further  resolved,  that  an  appeal  be  proposed  on 
the  subject  of  the  celebration,  exhibiting  the  claims  of 
the  several  objects,  for  which  funds  are  to  be  raised 
and  the  obligations  of  the  churches,  to  afford  the  de- 
sired support ;  and  that,  as  a  w^ell  authenticated  and 
judiciously  written  life  of  Luther,  setting  forth  his  opin- 
ions on  cardinal  Theological  points  of  doctrine  is  still 
a  desideratum  in  the  church,  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.  Kurtz 
was  appointed  to  prepare  such  a  work. 

Having  performed  the  task,  w7hich  we  had  imposed 
on  ourselves,  of  presenting  to  the  American  Christian 
public  a  faithful  picture  of  the  origin,  progress  and 
present  state  of  the  American  Lutheran  church,  ere 
we  take  a  finalleave  of  you,  dear  Reader,  we  wish  to 
say  a  word  to  you,  and  especially  to  those  among  you, 
whom  our  Heavenly  Father's  hand  has  planted  with 
us  in  the  same  bed  of  his  spiritual  garden. 


248  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

Ought  not  the  liveliest  feelings  of  gratitude  fill  our 
hearts,  when  we  take  a  general  view  of  our  church  as 
planted  in  America  and  compare  its  present  state  and 
growth  with  the  small  beginnings  in  the  days  of  our 
Fathers  ?  For  we  cannot  deny  it,  rich  are  the  fruits, 
which  the  seed  sown  and  watered  with  the  tears  and 
the  prayers  of  God's  servants,  whom  a  century  since 
he  sent  into  his  labor,  has  borne  !  Seventy-five  years 
ago  the  American  Lutheran  church,  united  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania Synod,  consisted  of  forty  congregations,  scat- 
tered over  the  States  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
Jersey,  Maryland,  Virginia  and  Georgia ;  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  century,  about  two  hundred 
congregations  under  the  care  of  seventy  pastors  con- 
nected with  the  two  Synods  of  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York,  composed  the  church :  in  its  fifth  decennium, 
however,  we  number  733  churches;  367  ministers  and 
88000  communicants,  under  the  care  of  fourteen  State 
and  District  Synods.  Another  cause  of  gratitude  to- 
wards God  is  the  removal  of  those  difficulties,  with 
which  the  founders  of  our  church  had  to  contend. — 
Poverty  compelled  almost  every  individual  church  to 
apply  to  the  Father-land  for  assistance,  whenever  they 
desired  to  erect  a  tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  unless  their 
pastors  were  able  to  undertake  the  building  of  churches 
at  their  own  expense.  In  our  day  almost  every  indi- 
vidual congregation  possesses  the  means  to  defray  the 
expenses,  and  whenever  these  fail,  the  churches  of 
our  own  country  are  cheerfully  opening  the-  hand  of 
charity  for -the  relief  of  poor  brethren  in  the  faith. — 
Ministers  could  only  be  obtained  from  distant  Germa- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          249 

ny  in  times  of  old ;  now  our  Theological  schools  be- 
gin to  supply  the  churches  with  pastors.  In  bye-gone 
days  the  poverty  of  the  people  compelled  their  minis- 
ters to  eat  the  bread  of  sorrow  and  of  care ;  but  at 
present  every  church  can,  if  it  will,  give  unto  the  la- 
borer his  hire. 

However,  while  we  have  cause  to  rejoice  at  the  re- 
moval of  these  and  other  difficulties,  which  were  pres- 
sing hard  upon  our  predecessors  in  the  work  of  God, 
we  have  to  lament  that  many  still  exist,  which  hinder 
the  spiritual  growth  of  the  church.  That  spirit  of  con- 
troversy, of  egotism  and  of  dogmatism,  of  which  a 
Muhlenberg,  a  Wrangel,  a  Keppele  and  others  had  to 
complain  in  their  day,  has  not  left  us  yet ;  and  is  des- 
tructive of  much  good.  It  is  true,  it  is  a  spirit  not 
unknown  in  the  annals  of  our  church  almost  from  its 
commencement.  To  what  else  can  we  ascribe  the 
numberless  Theological  controversies  that  sprung  up 
and  were  maintained  with  great  obstinacy  in  our  church 
during  the  17th  century?  Whence  arose  the  opposi- 
tion to  Arndt,  Spener,  Franke,  and  other  men  of  pie- 
ty and  learning,  who  were  pleading  the  cause  of  vital 
piety  against  the  spirit  of  a  dry  orthodoxy?  Have  we 
not  to  ascribe  the  Hyperorthodoxy  of  one  century,  and 
the  Bible-neglecting  neology  of  another,  to  the  same 
spirit  of  controversy  ?  Exotic  however  as  it  is,  this 
spirit  has  found  its  way  into  the  American  church,  it 
opposed  itself  to  the  pious  labors  of  Muhlenberg, 
Wrangel,  Handshuh,  Kurtz,  and  many  other  servants 
of  Jesus  in  former  days,  and  it  does  not  cease  its  op- 
Dosition  in  our  own  time!  The  habitation  of  this  spirit 


250  AMERICAM    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

is  the  corrupted  heart  of  man,  his  favorite  chamber 
there  is  denominated  Pride. 

The  precepts  and  the  example  of  our  Lord  lead  us 
into  the  path  of  patience,  of  forbearance  and  of  love  ; 
but  the  spirit  of  the  world  into  the  way  of  controversy, 
of  egotism  and  dispute.  This  evil  spirit  pulls  down, 
but  builds  nothing  up  ;  by  his  poisonous  touch  every 
germ  of  true  spirituality  is  blasted,  every  carnal  seed 
fostered  and  cherished.  Under  his  influence  the  hu- 
xman  heart  may  be  compared  to  a  field  unfit  for  the 
production  of  wholesome  food  for  man  and  beast,  but 
nevertheless  covered  with  useless  and  injurious  weeds. 

The  instruction  of  youth  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
Christian  religion,  that  work,  so  highly  honored  by  the 
fathers  of  the  reformation,  a  Luther,  a  Calvin,  a  Bu- 
genhagen,  and  a  Melanchthon,  and  so  strongly  insis- 
ted upon  by  founders  of  more  modern  denominations, 
a  Zinzendorf,  a  Whitfield  and  a  Wesley,  that  work, 
which  was  dear  also  to  the  Fathers  of  the  American 
branch  of  our  church,  is  too  much  neglected  among 
us  in  the  present  day.  Authorities  of  great  and  good 
men  alone,  ought  not  indeed  sway  us  altogether.  The 
time  was  in  our  church,  when  Luther's  words  exerci- 
sed a  more  formidable  rule  than  Luther's  sense ;  that 
time  however,  is  passed  away,  we  are  fast  verging  to 
the  other  extreme,  in  believing,  that  the  great  spirits  of 
the  reformation  scarcely  possessed  common  sense, 
when  their  deep-thought-theories  do  not  square  with 
our  superficial  views  of  things.  But  still  it  is  true 
that  the  authorities  of  these  great  men  alone  ought  not 
to  prevent  us  from  research,  and  happily  we  know, 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHtTRCH.  251 

that  the  value  of  religious  instruction  does  not  rest  on 
such  authority  alone ;  we  are  not  unacquainted  with 
the  blessed  effects  of  an  early  religious  education,  both 
from  the  pages  of  history  and  our  own  experience. — 
Look  at  the  history  of  Germany  during  the  second 
half  of  the  18th  century;  neology  had  overspread  the 
land,  it  was  stated,  that  in  all  Protestant  Germany  there 
were  not  six  hundred  ministers  faithful  adherents  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  Reformation.  But  the  writings  of 
Arndt,  Spener,  Franke,  were  in  every  house ;  the 
Canstine  Bible  Institute  had  provided  almost  every 
family,  where  the  German  language  was  spoken,  with 
the  word  of  God,  long  ere  the  idea  of  a  Bible  society 
was  conceived  in  other  countries ;  the  religious  instruc- 
tions of  children  by  these  very  neologists  must  be  con- 
.  ducted  according  to  Luther's  catechism  or  that  of 
Hidleberg ;  for  the  parents,  acquainted  with  the  Ian* 
guage  and  doctrines  contained  in  the  Postillas  of  Lu- 
ther and  of  a  more  modern  Rambach,  and  ignorant  of 
the  philosophical  phraseology  of  their  pastors,  deman- 
ded the  instructions  of  their  children  in  the  manner  of 
the  forefathers ;  these  instructions  drawn  from  evangel- 
ical sources,  preserved  the  religion  of  Christ  in  the 
midst  of  neological  preachers,  so  that,  when  with  the 
19th  century  a  brighter  star  arose  over  the  church,  the 
people  cheerfully  welcomed  it  as  the  guide  to  the  babe 
of  Bethlehem.  Such  are  the  lessons,  we  may  learn 
from  history.  Experience  is  another  teacher,  and  as 
he  approacheth  nearer  home,  is  apt  to  make  the  deep- 
er impressions.  Many  of  us  still  remember  the  time, 
when  remissness  in  the  religious  instruction  of  chil- 


I 


252  AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

dren  was  a  fault  in  our  preachers,  seldom  discovered 
but  least  forgiven  ;  and  can  we  forget,  that  this  instruc- 
tion peculiar  to  the  German  churches  created  so  strong 
an  attachment  to  that  church,  that  it  almost  amounted 
to  a  fault  ?  This  instruction  is  now  sparingly  impar- 
ted, and  what  is  the  consequence  ?  The  attachment 
to  .the  church  has  been  weakened  so  much,  that  the 
causes  of  this  alarming  fact  have  frequently  been  made 
the  subject  of  inquiry  in  our  church  paper,  and  we  are 
sorry  to  say,  that  among  all  the  causes  that  were  as- 
signed, we  have  missed  the  one,  which  is  at  the  root 
of  the  evil,  viz:  u  The  remissness  of  many  of  our  pas- 
tors in  the  religious  instruction  of  our  youths ."  Would 
this  remissness  exist  among  us,  were  it  not  for  that 
selfish  spirit  ?  But  his  baneful  influence  expends  still 
farther.  One  hundred  and  thirty-five  years  have  pas- 
sed away,  since  the  Missionary  spirit  manifested  itself 
in  the  Protestant  church,  and  shewed  the  first  signs  of 
life  in  that  portion  of  Protestantism,  with  which  we  are 
particularly  connected.  Missionary  exertions  have 
been  made  first  at  Halle,  in  Denmark  and  in  Norway. 
The  love  to  Jesus,  the  friend  of  repenting  sinners,  and 
the  experimental  knowledge  of  that  peace,  which  pas- 
seth  all  understanding,  had  excited  the  desire  in  many 
pious  hearts,  to  impart  these  blessings  to  distant  hea- 
then nations.  From  Halle  the  missionary  zeal  spread 
over  other  countries  and  other  denominations,  but 
gradually  diminished  in  our  own  church,  and  the  in- 
quirer into  the  cause  of  this  dereliction  will  soon  dis- 
cover that  the  spirit  of  controversy  and  of  egotism  has 
not  been  inactive,  though  the  main  cause  is  to  be 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  253 

sought  in  the  departure  from  Scripture  doctrines  and 
the  adoption  of  neological  systems.  When  men  like 
Bolzius,  Gronau  and  Lembke  in  the  South,  and  simi- 
larly minded  men  in  the  North,  were  exercising  their 
beneficial  influence  on  the  American  Lutheran  church, 
we  see  them  engaged  with  a  Whitfield,  a  Wesley  and  a 
Tennant,  in  forming  plans  for  the  instruction  of  the  In- 
dian and  the  negro  races  in  our  country;  but  these  plans 
were  neglected  and  forgotten  through  the  same  spirit, 
which  prevents  all  unity  and  harmony  of  action ;  until 
a  few  years  since,  when  an  attempt  at  least  was  made 
to  revive  the  Missionary  zeal  in  the  American  Luthe- 
ran church  ;  and  would  to  God!  that  zeal  might  con- 
tinue to  increase  until  it  shall  have  pervaded  the  whole 
body! 

Another  evil  we  have  to  lament  in  our  American  Lu- 
theran church,  arising  from  the  same  source ;  it  is  the 
dispute  about  old  and  new  measures.  Among  the  old 
measures,  which  we  love,  we  place  religious  instruc- 
tion of  the  young  at  the  head ;  the  reasons  are  appa- 
rent from  what  has  been  stated  on  the  subject.  The 
new  measure  that  is  to  take  the  place  of  the  elder  sis- 
ter, are  protracted  meetings,  to  produce  deeper  im- 
pressions on  the  minds  of  the  people,  than  ordinary. 
We  believe  that  such  meetings  are  salutary,  the  truths 
of  the  gospel  are  presented  to  the  auditors  in  a  varie* 
ty  of  forms  ;  the  manner  of  one  minister  is  well  calcu- 
lated to  make  an  impression  on  some,  on  whom  the 
mode  of  another  in  exhibiting  Christian  doctrines  is 
not  so  successful ;  but  we  cannot  view  them  as  sub- 
stitutes of  catechetical  instruction  ;  unless  this  founda- 
22* 


254         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

tion  is  laid,  the  superstructure  will  in  most  cases  prove 
ephemeral.  Let  us  therefore  combine  the  old  and  new 
measure,  and  we  shall  soon  behold  the  fruit !  But  can 
we  unite  old  and  new  measure  men  ?  We  fear  it  is 
impossible.  O !  Thou  Spirit  of  Jesus,  instruct  Thou 
the  professed  followers  of  Christ  to  forsake  the  road 
of  contention  and  to  tread  in  the  paths  of  love. — We 
might  suppose  that  experience  of  the  past  would  ren- 
der men  cautious  for  the  future.  But  it  does  not  ap- 
pear to  be  the  fact.  This  is  evident  from  the  view 
which  many  men  take  of  the  purity  of  the  church  of 
Christ. 

Attempts  have  been  made  since  the  middle  of  the 
second  century  to  establish  a  visible  church  on  earth 
free  from  tares !  and  though  the  experience  of  sixteen 
centuries  has  proved  these  attempts  abortive,  unmind- 
ful of  the  Savior's  warning ;  Matthew  xiii.  30 :  u  Let 
both  grow  together  until  the  harvest,  and  in  the  time 
of  the  harvest  I  will  say  to  the  reapers,  gather  ye  first 
together  the  tares  and  bind  them  in  bundles  to  burn 
them,  but  gather  the  wheat  into  my  barn ;  "  there  are 
men  who  still  persist  in  them,  deaf  to  the  voice  of 
warning  and  experience  !  But  while  we  disapprove 
of  the  premature  zeal  of  pulling  up  the  tares,  we  are 
equally  averse  to  that  spirit,  which  rejects  every  salu- 
tary church  discipline.  The  Savior  will,  that  we  should 
admonish  the  erring  brother  and  in  case  of  incorrigi- 
ble obstinacy  remove  him  from  our  communion. 

Again  there  are  two  other  extremes,  equally  averse 
to  the  true  welfare  of  the  church.  On  the  one  hand 
we  see  men  in  the  church  of  Christ,  preferring  the  wis- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  fc255 

dom  of  this  world  to  the  wisdom  of  Him,  who  has 
made  the  heavens  and  the  earth !  men,  who  will  re- 
ceive no  doctrine  as  a  divine  truth,  which  reaches  be- 
yond the  bounds  of  their  mental  powers !  Is  human 
intelligence  the  highest  in  existence  ?  Can  human  rea- 
son fathom  that  wisdom,  which  has  produced  the  earth 
and  all  the  heavenly  host  ?  Can  human  wisdom  ex- 
plain, how  the  union  of  body,  soul  and  spirit  compose 
the  Being,  we  call  man  ? — Then  only,  when  all  the 
mysteries  of  creation  shall  no  longer  be  mysteries  to  the 
human  mind,  then  perhaps  may  the  worm  of  dust,  (\e- 
nominated  man,  constitute  his  own  wisdom  the  meas- 
ure of  divine  doctrines.  But  as  matters  stand  now, 
the  presumption  of  these  men  does  not  consider,  that, 
while  the  doctrines  of  Sacred  writ  have  stood  during 
millennia  as  monuments  of  divine  wisdom,  they  have 
to  change  their  proud  systems  more  than  once  in  the 
course  of  a  decennium. 

But  injurious  and  ruinous  as  it  is  to  the  progress  and 
extension  of  Biblical  truth,  to  place  human  wisdom  on 
the  throne  of  God,  it  is  no  less  so,  on  the  other  hand, 
when  men  reject  the  use  of  sound  reason  in  religion, 
altogether  yielding  to  the  suggestions  of  a  wild  imagi- 
nation. The  Lord  our  God  does  not  demand  the  zeal 
of  a  blind  faith  from  us,  he  directs  us  to  the  Scripture, 
to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony  of  prophecy,  it  is  his 
will,  that  we  should  have  our  mental  eyes  open  to  the 
facts  taught  by  the  experience  of  other  ages,  with  the 
view  to  learn,  that  human  wisdom  is  insufficient  in  it- 
self to  dive  into  the  depths  of  divine  wisdom,  and 
having  discovered  this  truth,  it  is  our  duty  to  yield  to 


256          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

the  suggestions  of  our  understanding,  to  acknowledge 
the  necessity  of  a  divine  revelation,  and  to  examine 
where  it  is  to  be  found.  And  if  the  result  of  a  pray- 
erful examination  is  the  consent  of  mind  and  heart, 
'  the  Bible  is  that  divine  revelation,'  we  are  again  to 
employ  our  mental  eye  in  studying  this  wTord  of  God, 
and  to  accept  in  faith  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father. 
To  the  fulfilment  of  that  duty  we  are  directed  by  the 
enlightening  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  improves 
a  variety  of  circumstances  of  sorrow  and  joy,  occurring 
in,  our  passage  through  life  for  that  purpose,  and  all 
we  have  to  do  in  this  work  of  grace,  is,  to  imitate  the 
flower  of  the  field,  that  opens  itself  to  the  cheering  in- 
fluence of  the  sun,  with  that  single  difference,  that 
while  the  effect  of  the  light  of  this  world  is  irresistibly 
exercised  upon  the  flower,  we  are  to  be  ware  f  lest 
we  do  despite  unto  the  spirit  of  grace.  Having  yiel- 
ded to  that  beneficent  influence  so  as  to  produce  in  us 
the  change  of  heart  and  will,  that  blessed  'revelation 
given  us  in  the  word  of  God,  will  be  our  sufficient 
guide  to  everlasting  life.  For  being  persuaded,  that 
its  promises  proceed  from  God,  and  that  it  is  true, 
that  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  seek  and  save  that 
which  was  lost,  and  knowing,  that  we  were  lost,  we 
stand  in  need  of  no  supernatural  token,  to  assure  us  of 
the  good  will  of  our  heavenly  Father  towards  us,  it 
is  enough,  that  he  gave  his  son  for  those  who  were 
lost  to  learn  also,  that  with  him  he  will  give  us  every 
other  needful  gift. 

But  in  the  midst  of  these  difficulties  let  us  not  des- 
pair.    If  Luther^when  the  powers  of  Rome  in  their  fall 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          257 

gathered  strength  to  crush  the  work  he  had  commen- 
ced in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  could  sing : 

"A  firm  support  is  our  God, 
A  strong  defence  and  weapon." 

may  we  not  follow  his  example  in  our  day  of  compara- 
tive light,  and  in  trials,  deserving  no  comparison  with 
those,  which  he  and  his  coadjutors  endured  ?  That 
powrer  so  formidable  in  the  days  of  the  reformation  is 
broken,  its  traditions,  decretals,  councils  and  interdicts 
can  scarcely  make  a  weak  impression  upon  its  own 
adherents.  Without  fear  of  the  stake  we  as  Protestants 
profess  before  the  world  that  rule  of  faith,  held  forth 
by  the  Apostles  and  Prophets,  of  which  Jesus  Christ 
is  the  corner  stone.  To  this  foundation  all  parties 
have  to  return,  if  we  shall  behold  the  dawn  of  univer- 
sal Christian  light  and  knowledge.  We  also  are  aware 
that  the  Biblical  truths,  on  which  we  build,  have  stood 
the  ordeal  of  criticism,  applied  to  them  by  the  most 
learned  men,  provided  with  the  most  powerful  weap- 
ons. Through  this  ordeal  others  have  still  to  pass, 
and  the  time  is  come  in  our  country,  when  Zion's 
walls  shall  be  assaulted,  by  men,  who  borrow  their 
arms  of  attack  from  the  armory  of  those,  who  nearly  a 
century  since  fabricated  these  weapons  in  Europe,  and 
happy  will  we  be,  if  we  in  America  can  have  recourse 
to  the  arms,  which  were  able  to  blunt  the  sharp  edge 
of  the  hostile  swords.  But  what  proof  can  we  give, 
that  our  church  in  the  father-land  has  passed  through 
this  ordeal  ?  We  reply,  a  proof  satisfactory  to  a  can- 
did mind!  Human  science,  so  called,  is  one  of  the 
means,  by  which  an  attempt  is  made  to  sap  the  foun- 


258          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

elation  of  our  religion.  If  those  branches  of  knowledge 
abused  for  that  purpose  were  truly  deserving  the  name 
of  science,  we  might  have  cause  to  fear,  but  men  fre- 
quently draw  general  inferences  from  isolated  facts, 
and  as  often  tooxfrom  parts,  wyhich  under  different  cir- 
cumstances assume  a  different  aspect.  For  instance, 
the  science  of  geology  is  supposed  to  be  sufficient,  to 
subvert  the  account  of  Moses  respecting  the  creation, 
because  it  is  thought,  that  the  less  or  more  advanced 
state  of  decomposition  in  which  the  layers  of  lava  are 
found,  the  eruption  of  which  is  known  in  regard  to 
time,  will  afford  a  scale,  by  which  not  only  to  measure 
the  time  of  the  eruptions  of  other  Volcanos,  with  whose 
history  we  are  unacquainted,  but  also  to  drawr  infer- 
ences in  reference  to  the  age  of  other  layers  of  lava 
which  are  discovered  to  be  in  a  more  advanced  state 
of  decomposition.  By  this  means  a  calculation  has 
been  produced,  which  makes  the  age  of  our  earth  illy 
to  square  with  the  assertions  of  the  Jewish  law-giver. 
Though  not  professing  to  be  skilled  in  geology,  still 
we  know  with  every  agriculturist  of  our  country,  that 
the  state  of  the  decomposition  of  common  manure  does 
not  depend  so  much  on  time,  as  on  other  circumstan- 
ces. It  is  a  fact,  that  common  manure  wrill  sometimes 
be  decomposed  in  a  very  short  time,  and  at  another 
the  same  Jdnd  of  manure  \vill  lie  undecomposed  for  a 
much  longer  space  of  time  ;  and  we  hope  not  to  judge 
rashly,  if  we  infer  from  these  well  known  and  univer- 
sally observed  facts,  that  the  time  of  decomposition  of 
any  matter  ascertained  in  one  or  two  cases,  is  no  cri- 
terion to  drawr  a  general  inference,  as  to  every  case. 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  259 

Such  calculations  however,  are  now  making  in  the 
United  States,  and  it  is  apparent,  they  find  many  ad- 
mirers and  applauders.  *  With  stronger  weapons  of 
criticism  than  geology  as  yet  affords,  the  learned  ene- 
mies of  Christianity,  that  sprung  from  the  French  and 
English  schools  of  unbelievers,  have  laid  siege  to  al- 
most every  expression  of  the  Bible,  especially  in  Ger- 
many, ever  since  the  middle  of  the  18th  century. — 
The  time  was,  when  complete  victory  seemed  to  crown 
their  efforts,  but  that  time  is  past.  At  every  German 
university  we  now  find  pious  men  of  deep  erudition, 
successfully  repelling  the  attack  from  strong  conviction 
and  proclaiming  the  Bible  as  the  word  of  salvation. 
They,  from  their  store  of  research,  impart  the  means 
unto  thousands  and  thousands  again,  not  only  to  resist 
manfully  the  attacks  of  the  enemy,  but  also  to  drive 
him  from  the  field  ;  able  to  say  with  a  Paul,  "  I  am  not 
ashamed  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  for  it  is  the  pow- 
er of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  belie veth." 
And  are  not  these  stores  of  knowledge  more  accessi- 
ble to  the  Americ  an  Lutheran  church  than  to  any  other 
sister  church  in  these  States  ?  The  language  which 
contains  these  stores  is  not  yet  forgotten  among  us ; 
and  rest  assured,  we  shall  stand  in  need  of  every  re- 
source in  defence  of  the  church  ere  many  years  shall 
have  passed  over  our  heads.  The  church  in  Europe 
is  victorious  through  a  pious  use  of  these  weapons,  the 
American  church  may  likewise  stand  the  test  by  the 
same  means  used  in  reliance  on  the  help  of  Him,  who 
has  said  "  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  my 
church."  Our  faith  will  be  put  to  the  test,  and  we 


960  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

fear,  that  the  love  of  many  will  wax  cold.  Let  us  stand 
fast  therefore  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ  has  made 
us  free,  and  let  us  not  be  entangled  again  with  any 
yoke  of  bondage,  except  the  yoke  of  Christ.  We  have 
great  cause  of  encouragement  to  enter  into  the  battle 
of  the  Lord,  for  we  are  surrounded  by  a  cloud  of  wit- 
nesses. The  heroes  of  the  reformation  conquered  the 
enemies  of  Bible  truth  through  the  strength  of  Him, 
who  is  strong  in  those  that  are  weak,  the  founders  of 
our  American  church  overcame  the  difficulties  in  the 
which  they  were  involved,  by  their  firm  reliance  and 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ;  the  friends  of  the  Bible  in  Eu- 
rope are  successfully  contending  for  the  truth  once 
delivered  unto  the  Saints,  supported  by  the  same  Al- 
mighty power.  And  Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yester- 
day and  forever.  Let  us  therefore  take  courage,  we 
serve  a  good  cause.  He  who  supported  our  forefath- 
ers, will  also  support  us  if  we  with  faithfulness  and  in 
singleness  of  heart  will  serve  him ;  his  blessing  will  ac- 
company our  labors,  and  we  shall  see,  if  not  here  on 
earth,  certainly  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  that  we 
have  not  labored  in  vain. 


APPENDIX  No.  I. 

Ministerial  regulations  of  the  German  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran congregations  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  adja- 
cent States. 

[The  ground- work  of  every  Synodical  constitution  since  formed.] 

CHAPTER  i. —  The  Name. 

WE,  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  ministers  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  adjacent  States,  who  acknowledge 
one  another  mutually  as  one  body,  by  the  subscription 
of  our  respective  names  to  these  ministerial  regulations, 
denominate  our  Society:  "  The  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  ministerium  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  adjacent 
States;"  and  our  convention:  "A  ministerial  meet- 
ing" and  our  convention  with  the  Delegates  of  the  as- 
sociated congregations,  "A  Synodical  meeting." 

CHAP.  n. —  Of  the  Senior. 

1.  The  ministerium  acknowledges  a  Senior  for  life, 
a  dignity,  granted  to  the  oldest  and  most  meritorious 
of  our  pastors  by  the  ballot  of  the  ordained  ministers, 
provided,  his  conduct  is  conformable  to  the  station, 
which  he  holds. 

2.  The  ministerium  honors  the  Senior  as  a  father, 
and  cheerfully  receives  his  advice  and  admonition  in 
all  cases,  wherein  his  experience  may  prove  beneficial, 

23 


262        AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

CHAP.  in. —  Of  the  President. 

1.  The  President  of  the  ministerium  is  also  Presi- 
dent of  the  Synodical  meeting,  and  presides  in  the 
sessions,  and  is  in  other  respects  respected  as  an  over- 
seer. 

2.  Ordained  ministers  solely  are  eligible  to  that  of- 
fice.    He  is  annually  elected  by  a  plurality  of  votes  of 
the  ordained  ministers,  licensed  candidates,  and  the 
delegates  of  the  congregations,  in  the  commencement 
of  the  session,  after  the  delegates  have  been  recogni- 
sed as  members  of  Synod  by  the  inspection  of  their 
certificates  of  election. 

3.  He  continues  in  office  until  at  the  next  Synodical 
meeting  his  successor  has  been  elected.     He  is  re-eli- 
gible for  three  successive  elections  only. 

4.  He  is  entitled  in  Synodical  and  ministerial  mee- 
tings to  offer  resolutions  and  to  express  his  opinion, 
as  well  as  any  other  member. 

5.  When  the  votes  are  even,  he  has  the  casting 
vote,  but  in  no  other  case  has  he  a  vote,  except  in  elec- 
tions by  ballot,  but  in  that  case  he  has  no  casting  vote. 

6.  He  nominates  the  committees  with   consent  of 
Synod ;  in  contested  cases  however,  each  party  may 
choose  one  arbiter  and  the  President  the  third. 

7.  He  in  connexion  with  the  Pastor  loci  appoints 
the  ministers,  that  are  to  officiate  during  the  session. 

8.  The  President  ordains  candidates  with  the  assis- 
tance of  two  or  more  ordained  ministers.     The  act  of 
ordination  is  to  be  performed  in  public  meeting,  when- 
ever possible,  but  no  candidate  can  be  ordained  un- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          263 

less  two-thirds  of  the  ordained  ministers  present  con- 
sider him  a  suitable  subject  for  ordination. 

9.  In  like  manner  can  the  President  grant 'licenses 
to  candidates  in  a  general  ministerial  meeting  only, 
and  with  the  consent  of  two-thirds  of  the  ordained 
ministers. 

10.  He  appoints  the  committee  of  examination  of 
candidates  and  catechists,  though  each  member  is  at 
liberty  to  take  part  in  the  examination. 

11.  He  is  to  admonish  an  erring  brother  several 
times  in  private,  if  this  admonition  prove  unavailing, 
he  brings  the  case  before  Synod  or  ministerium  for 
investigation  and  decision, 

12.  He  is  to  sign  and  deliver  the  resolutions  pas- 
sed in  Synod  to  the  delegates  of  the  church. 

13.  It  is  his  duty  to  sign  all  ordination  certificates, 
licensevS,  &c.,  and  to  see  that  they  receive  the  seal  of 
the  ministerium,  and  that  they  are  given  into  the  hands 
of  those  persons  for  whom  they  are  designed. 

14.  He  is  to  subscribe  the  proceedings  of  Synod  in 
the  written  minutes. 

15.  It  is  his  duty  to  see  that  all  the  instruments  of 
writing  are  delivered  into  the  Archives, 

CHAP.  iv. —  Of  the  Secretary. 

1 .  The  Secretary  of  the  ministerium  is  also  Secre- 
tary of  Synod  and  is  elected  annually  at  the  same  time 
and  in  the  same  manner,  as  well  as  on  the  same  con- 
ditions under  which  the  President  is  elected. 

2.  Ordained  ministers  only  that  are  suitable  and  ex- 
perienced can  be  chosen  for  this  office. 


264          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

3.  It  is  his  duty  to  write  letters,  licenses,  certificates 
of  ordination,  &c. 

4.  He  countersigns  the  ordination  certificates,  licen- 
ses, resolutions  of  Synod  for  the  delegates  as  well  as 
the  proceedings  of  Synod  in  the  written  minutes. 

5.  It  is  his  duty  to  give  at  least  six  weeks'  previous 
notice  in  one  or  several  German  papers,  of  the  place 
and  time  for  holding  a  Synodical  meeting. 

6.  He  is  to  keep  a  list  of  all  the  ordained  ministers, 
licensed  candidates  and  catechists,  the  place  of  their 
residence,  of  the  respective  churches  in  connexion 
with  the  ministerium,  and  the  names  of  the  ministers 
officiating  in  them. 

CHAP.  v. —  Of  the  members  of  the  ministerium. 

There  are  three  ranks  of  teachers  in  the  ministerium, 
viz :  Ordained  ministers,  licensed  candidates  and  cate- 
chists. 

ARTICLE  i. —  Of  Ordained  ministers. 

1.  All  ordained  ministers  are  equal  in  regard  to 
rank  or  title,  excepting  the  officers  spoken  of  before ; 
ministers  have  therefore  no  other  superintendents  but 
these  officers,  and  these    only  in  so  far  as  this  minis 
terial  regulation  renders  it  incumbent  on  them,  to  im- 
part their  views  and  advice  to  ministers. 

2.  No  minister  therefore  is  permitted  to  perform 
ministerial  acts  or  official  duties  in  the  congregations 
of  another  pastor,  except  with  his  consent. 

3.  Every  pastor  may,    as    circumstances   require, 
introduce  regulations  in   the  churches  of  his  charge, 
though  care  should  be  taken,  that  there  should  exist  a 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          265 

pleasing  harmony  in  these  rules  with  the  regulations 
in  the  other  churches,  as  far  as  possible. 

4.  The  minister  may  leave  his  congregation    and 
take  the  charge  of  others,  though  his  duty  requires  to 
act  conscientiously  in  such  a  case,  and  he  is  to  inform 
the  President  of  the  change  as  soon  as  possible. 

5.  Whenever  important  questions  of  conscience  are 
to  be  examined  and  decided,  the  ordained  ministers 
alone  are  to  be  entitled  to  a  vote  in  the  case. 

6 .  Every  ordained  minister  possessing  the  requisite 
qualifications,    time    and    opportunity,    may   instruct 
young  persons,  desirous  of  devoting  themselves  to  the 
ministry,  and  prepare  them  for  the  service  of  the  Lord, 
and  whenever  a  student  so  instructed  has  obtained  a 
suitable  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of  salvation,  pos- 
sesses experimental  religion,  the  gift  of  speaking,  and 
an  unblemished  character,  his  instructor  may  permit 
him  to  preach. 

7.  When  a  minister,  whose  ordination  we  acknowl- 
edge, desires  to  be  received  into  our  connexion,  the 
vote  is  to  be  taken  in  a  general  ministerial  meeting, 
but  none  can  be  acknowledged  as  an  actual  member, 
who  does  not  receive  two-thirds  of  the  votes  of  the  or- 
dained ministers  present. 

8.  Ministers,  who  either  by  express  request  or  with 
the  consent  of  their  ministerium  are  sent  to  this  country, 
by  a  European  Institute,  such  as  the  Orphan-house  of 
Halle,  or  some  Evangelical  Consistory  or  ministerium, 
cannot  be  rejected,  unless  the  objections  of  two-thirds 
of  the  ordained  ministers  present  are  well-founded  and 
important. 

sa* 


266  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    OHUBCII. 

ART.  ii. —  Of  licensed  candidates. 

1 .  The  ministerial  activity  of  licensed  candidates  is 
confined  to  those  congregations,  which  have  been  con- 
fided to  their  care  by  the  ministerium. 

2.  A  licensed  candidate  is  not  permitted  to  leave 
those  congregations  to  which  he  has  been  appointed 
to  officiate,  or  exchange  them  for  others  without  the 
approval  of  the  ministerium  or  its  officers  ;  he  is  like- 
wise prohibited  from  performing  ministerial  duty  in 
any  other  congregation,  except  if  requested  by  an  or- 
dained minister  to  officiate  for  him. 

3.  He  is  to  preach  the  word  of  God  in  its  purity 
according  to  the  law  and  the  gospel,  he  is  to  give 
regularly  catechetical  instruction  to  the  children,  to 
visit  the  schools  and  the  sick,  endeavor  to  increase  in 
knowledge,  and  adorn  his  office  by  a  Christian  walk 
and  conversation.  . 

4.  He  performs  all  the  actus  ministeriales  in  the  con- 
gregations entrusted  to  his  care,  during  the  term  of  his 
license. 

5.  He  is  to  keep  a  journal  of  his  official  labors,  for 
the  inspection  of  the  ministerium  as  well  as  some  ser- 
mons of  his  composition,  and  annually  to  return  his 
license  for  renewal  to  the  ministerium. 

6.  It  is  his  duty  to  appear  annually  at  Synod,  in 
which  he  has  seat  and  vote,  and  likewise  attend  the 
ministerial  meeting. 

7.  But  if  on  account  of  distance  or  any  other  im- 
portant cause  he  should  not  be  able  to  attend  Synod, 
he  is  bound  to  render  his  excuse,  send  his  journal,  the 
sermons  and  his  license  to  the  ministerium. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          V67 

ART.  in. —  Of  catechists. 

1.  The  catechist  is  subject  to  the  general  superin- 
tendence of  the  ministerm m  and  its  officers,  and  be- 
sides this  to  the  particular  inspection  of  one  of  the 
neighboring  ordained  ministers,  who  is  to  be  named 
as  such  in  the  catechist's  license,  and  whom  he  has  to 
respect  as  his  instructor  and  father  ;  to  him  he  applies 
for  advice  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  as  well 
as  in  the  enlargement  of  his  Theological  knowledge. 

2.  The  catechist  is  however  not  to  be  considered 
as  adjunct  to  his  instructor,  but  attends  to  the  church- 
es assigned  him ;  the  instructor  is  therefore  not  per- 
mitted to  send  him  arbitrarily  into  other  congregations 
to  perform  official  duties  for  him,  but  it  is  the  instruct- 
or's duty,  to  assist  the  catechist  entrusted  to  him  with 
paternal  advice,  so  that  both  may  perform  their  res- 
pective offices  with  profit  to  the  congregations. 

3.  The  catechist  is  to  preach  the  word  of  God  in  pu- 
rity to  the  congregations  assigned  him  by  the  ministe- 
rium,  catechise  the  young,  administer  the  ordinance  of 
Baptism,  visit  the  schools  and  the  sick,  attend  fune- 
rals and  instruct  the  confirmands. 

4.  He  is  however  not  permitted  to  confirm  or  ad- 
minister the  Sacrament  of  the    Lord's    Supper,  but 
whenever  such  ministerial  acts  are  to  be  performed  in 
his  congregations,  he  has  to  request  his  instructor  some 
time  previously,  to  discharge  these  official  duties  for 
him  ;  in  that  case  the  instructor  appoints  a  day  for  that 
purpose,  and  performs  these  ministerial   acts   either 
personally,  or  requests  another  minister  in  connexion 
with  the  ministerium  to  do  it  for  him. 


268  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHtTKCH. 

5.  The  catechist  is  not  permitted  without  consent  of 
the  ministerium  or  its  officers,  to  leave  the  congrega- 
tions entrusted  to  him,  and  to  perform  official  duties  in 
other  congregations. 

6.  If  his  duty  permit  it,  he  may  keep  a  school,  if 
there  is  no  teacher  in  his  congregation. 

7.  It  is  his  duty  to  keep  a  journal  of  his  official  acts, 
for  the  inspection  of  the  mmisterium,  and  he  is  also 
bound  to  present  annually  two   sermons  of  his  own 
composition  to  the  ministerial  session,  as  also  his  li- 
cense for  a  renewal. 

8.  He  is  permitted  to  attend  the  annual  Sy nodical 
meetings,  but  has  no  vote.     But  he  has  to  appear  be- 
fore the  ministerial  session,  if  distance  of  location  and 
other  important  circumstances  do  not  prevent  him. 

9.  If  he  cannot  appear 'personally,  he  is  bound  to 
render  his  excuse  in  writing,  and  has  to  send  his  jour- 
nal, sermons,  and  license  to  the  ministerium,  the  latter 
for  a  renewal. 

10.  No  one  is  to  be  admitted  as  catechist,  whose 
walk  and  conversation  is  not  blameless ;  he  must  be  at 
least  twenty  years  of  age,  have  acquired  a  systematic 
knowledge  of  Christian  doctrines  and  ethics,  he  ought 
to^possess  some  knowledge  of  human  nature,  manifest 
a  gift  of  speaking,  and  above  all  things  a  practical 
knowledge  of  experimental  religion. 

11.  He  is  to  be  examined  by  the  ministerium,  and 
appointed  by  a  license  to  the  office  of  a  catechist,  be- 
fore he  can  officiate  in  that  capacity. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          269 

CHAP.  vi. —  Of  the  Sy nodical  meeting. 

1.  The  Synodical  meeting  is  to  be  held  at  least  once 
every  year ;  when  time  and  place  are  not  appointed 
by  the  preceding  meeting,  the  convocation  is  to  be  left 
optional  with  the  President. 

2.  The  regular  members  of  the  Synod  are  the  or- 
dained ministers,  the  licensed  candidates,  and  the  del- 
egates of  the  united  churches. 

3.  No  minister  is  permitted  to  absent  himself  from 
the  Synodical  meetings,  unless  in  cases  of  urgent  ne- 
cessity, and  if  such  a  case  occurs,  the  minister  absen- 
ting himself  has  to  render  a  written  excuse  to  the  body, 
and  it  is  expressly  understood,  that  the  performance 
of  official  duties  or  appointrm  nts  made  for  and  within 
the  time  of  Synodical  meetings  e.  g.  preaching,  mar- 
rying, the  giving  of  catechetical  instruction,  confirm- 
ing, administering  the  Lord's  Supper  and  the  like  are 
not  to  be  considered  as  cases  of  urgent  necessity,  de- 
serving an  excuse  for  non-attendance. 

4.  Whoever  does  not  appear  personally  at  the  Syn- 
odical meeting,  nor  renders  a  written  excuse  for  his 
absence,  shall  be  called  to  an  account  by  the  President 
at  the  next  Synodical  meeting. 

5.  If  any  minister  does  neither  attend  the  meeting 
of  Synod  nor  render  a  written  excuse  for  non-atten- 
dance during  three  successive  sessions,  he  is  to   be 
considered  as  being  no  longer  a  member  of  the  min- 
isterium. 

6.  Letters  of  excuse  for  non-attendance,  as  well  as 
all  other  instruments  of  writing,  are  always  to  be  direc- 
ted to  the  President. 


270          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

7.  The  Pastor  of  the  place,  where  the  Synod  is  to 
meet,  and  the  church  council  of  that  congregation,  are 
to  provide  for  the  entertainment  of  the  united  minis- 
ters, licensed  candidates  and   catechists  ;  those  who 
cannot  be  provided  for  in  the  families  of  the  congre- 
gation, are  to  be  entertained  at  the  expense  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

8.  The  ministers  are  to  meet  at  the  place  of  session 
one  day  previous  thereto,  so  that  the  presiding  officer 
may  arrange  the  services  in  the  church  and  appoint  the 
officiating  pastors,   and  no    member  ought    to   leave 
Synod  previous  to  its  close. 

9.  The  delegates  of  the  respective  churches  .may  at- 
tend all  the  meetings  of  Synod,  but  not  all  are  entitled 
to  a  vote;  those  delegates  only,  whose  spiritual  instruc- 
tor is  either  an  ordained  minister  or  a  licensed  candi- 
date, and  who  themselves  are  at  the  meeting.     Dele- 
gates from  churches  attended  by  catechists  have  no  vote 
at  Synod. 

10.  It  is  therefore    a  fixed   rule,  that  there    are  in 
Synod  as  many  voting  delegates,  as  there  are  ordained 
ministers  and  licensed  candidates  present. 

11.  All  the  delegates  claiming  a  vote  have  to  pro- 
duce before  Synod  and  President  a  certificate  of  elec- 
tion from  their  minister,  Elders  and  wardens ;  that  is, 
from  the  church  council  of  that  congregation  or  con- 
gregations whom  he  is  to  represent. 

12.  The  delegates  entitled  to  vote  are  to  take  seats 
apart  from  the  rest,  they  have  a  right  to  offer  resolu- 
tions, give  their  sentiments  and  votes  in  all  cases,  that 
are  to  be  decided ;  except  in  the  case  of  a  question  of 


AMERICAN   LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  271 

learning,  orthodoxy  or  heterodoxy  of  a  candidate  or 
catechist;  his  reception  into  or  exclusion  from  the  min- 
isterium, or  similar  cases,  which  the  ministerium  has 
to  decide. 

13.  Every  congregation  that  is  served  by  an  ordai- 
ned minister  or  a  licensed  candidate  in  connexion  with 
Synod,   and  any  member  of  congregations,  who  uni- 
tedly enjoy  the  services  of  such  a  pastor,  are  entitled 
to    one  delegate   to  Synod ;  his  expenses   are  to  be 
borne  by  the  congregation,  and  at  the  place  of  meet- 
ing each  Delegate  has  to  provide  for  his  board  and 
lodging ;  it  is  however,  left  optional  with  each  congre- 
gation whether  to  send  a  delegate  or  not. 

14.  As  therefore  the  united  congregations  are  re- 
presented in  Synod  by  their  respective  delegates,  and 
are  entitled  to  seat  and  vote   in  that  body,  it  is  their 
duty  cheerfully  to  obey  the  regulations  and  resolutions 
of  Synod  and  the  ministerium. 

15.  On  the  Lord's  day   three   sermons   are   to  be 
preached   in  the    place,  where  Synod  is  to  convene, 
and  if  the  meeting  is  in  a  city,  divine  service  is  to  be 
held  every  evening,  but  if  Synod  meets  in  the  country, 
a  sermon  is  to  be  preached  on  Monday  at  9  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  provided,  the  state  of  business  permit  it;  and 
in  that  case  the  Synod  meets  immediately  after  divine 
service. 

16.  Every  session  of  Synod  commences  at  9  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  and  continues  to  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  in 
the  afternoon  Synod  meets  at  three  o'clock,  and  clo- 
ses its  session  at  six  ;  unless  important  business  should 
require  more  protracted  sessions. 


272          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

17.  It  is  the  duty  of  the   President  to    enter  upon 
the  discharge  of  business  ten  minutes  after  9  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  and  in  the   afternoon  ten  minutes  past  three 
o'clock ;  even  if   no  more  than  three  ordained  mem- 
bers besides  himself  should  be  present.. 

18.  If  the  President  himself  should  not  be  punctual 
in  his  attendance,  if  at  least  five  ordained  ministers  are 
so,  the  members  present  elect  a  President  pro  tern,  and 
commence  business;  and  whatever  shall  have  been 
transacted  and  resolved  in  such  a  meeting,  shall  be 
considered  as  valid,  as  if  it  had  been  transacted  by  the 
whole  body. 

19.  In  the  absence  of  the  Secretary,  the  President 
appoints  one  pro  temp. 

20.  If  a  member  of  Synod  take  his  seat  after  the 
lapse  of  one  full  hour  of  meeting,  the  President  is  to 
reprimand  him  in  case  of  insufficient  excuse :  From 
this  regulation  the  pastor  loci  is  however,  exempt. 

21.  The  order  of  Synodical  business  is  as  follows  : 

a.  The  first  session  of  Synod  is  opened  with  prayer 
by  the  President  or  Senior,  if  they  are  absent,  by  the 
Secretary  or  one  of  the  elder  ministers. 

b.  After  prayer  the  Secretary  records  the  names  of 
the  ministers;  licensed  candidates  and  catechists  pres- 
ent, together  with  the  place  of  their  residence. 

c.  The  delegates  claiming  seat   and  vote  are  now 
called  upon  for  their  certificates  of  election,  these  be- 
ing found  in  order,  their  names  and  the  congregations 
which  they  represent,  are  registered. 

d.  Afterwards  the    President  or  his  substitute  an- 
nounces to  Synod,  that  the  term  for  which  the  Presi- 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          273 

dent  and  Secretary  have  been  elected,  is  closed,  and 
orders,  that  the  ministers,  licensed  candidates  and  del- 
egates, entitled  to  a  vote,  are  to  elect  a  President  and 
Secretary  by  ballot,  and  appoints  two  superintendents 
of  the  election. 

e.  After  election  the  delegates  and  other  members 
present  their  documents  to  the  President,  or  make  a 
verbal  declaration  respecting  the  business  they  wish 
to  bring  before  Synod. 

f.  The  Secretary  takes   a  record  of  the   different 
items  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  presented,  and 
these  documents  are  numbered  in  the  order  in  which 
they  have  been  entered  into  the  minutes. 

g.  The  letters  of  excuse  of  absent   members   are 
read,  and  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  notice  all 
the  absentees  in  the  minutes,  whether  they  are  excu- 
sed or  not. 

h.  The  minutes  of  the  last  Synod  are  read. 

i.  The  President  lays  before  Synod  all  the  transac- 
tions at  special  meetings,  arid  also  all  letters  which 
he  has  received  and  which  have  reference  to  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  church. 

j.  In  the  dispatch  of  business  Synod  is  bound  to 
give  preference  to  the  concerns  of  distant  congrega- 
tions and  delegates. 

k.  Every  minister  is  to  make  a  return  to  Synod  of 
the  names  of  the  congregations  whom  he  serves,  the 
number  of  the  baptized,  confirmed,  communicants 
and  deaths  in  each  congregation,  and  lastly  of  the  state 
of  the  schools. 

22.  When  members  of  Synod  or  Delegates  have  to 
24 


274        AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

make  a  communication  to  the  President  alone,  they 
are  not  permitted  to  call  him  out  of  the  chair  for  that 
purpose,  but  are  to  wait  till  he  is  at  leisure. 

23.  It  is  the  business  of  the  President,  to  see  that  ev- 
ery thing  be  in  order  ;  he  is  to  prevent  that  not  two  or 
more  attempt  to  speak  at  the  same  time,  he  is  to  see, 
that  the  right  of  each  member  of  Synod  be  preserved 
inviolate,  to  speak  his  opinion  freely  without  interrup- 
tion, unless  the  Speaker  is  out  of  order,  when  it  is  the 
President's  duty  to  call  him  to  order. 

24.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  President  to  take  special 
care,  that  every  motion  and  resolution,  brought  before 
the  house  in  constitutional  order,  be  duly  considered, 
and  also,  that  every  regular  motion  made  and  seconded, 
after  the  subject  has  been  fully  discussed,   is  plainly 
and  audibly  repeated  by  him   so  as  to  be  decided  by 
the  votes  of  the  house. 

25.  The  votes  are  to  be  given  by  simply  saying  Aye 
or  JVo,  without  any  remarks. 

26.  When  the   press   of  business  requires  it,  the 
President  may  appoint  one  or  more  additional  assist- 
ing Secretaries,  whose  office  however  is  to  cease  with 
the  session. 

27.  All  the  business  being  transacted,  the  Synod 
enters  into  an  election  by  ballot  for  the  time  and  place, 
where  and  when  the  next  meeting  is  to  be  held.     A 
majority  of  the  votes  is  decisive. 

28.  Each  session  of  Synod  is  to  be  commenced  and 
closed  with  prayer,  by  appointment  of  the  President. 

29.  The  last  session  of  Synod  is  to  be  closed  by 
the  Senior  or  President. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          275 

CHAP.  vii. —  Of  the  ministerial  meeting. 

1.  After  the  transaction  of  all  Synodical  business, 
the  ministerium  holds  a  meeting. 

2.  This  meeting  is  to  be  considered  by  the  minis- 
ters, candidates  and  catechists  as  the  most  important, 
and  no  one  is  to  absent  himself,  if  attendance  is  pos- 
sible. 

3.  The  ministerium  meets  precisely  at  the  appoin- 
ted time,  and  the  President  or  Senior  introduces  the 
sacred  duties  of  this  body  by  prayer.     Here  is  like- 
wise to  be  observed  what  has  been  stated  in  Chapter 
vi.  §  16 — 20  in  these  ministerial  regulations. 

4.  If  candidates  are  to  be  licensed  or  ordained,  or 
if  catechists  are  to  receive  license  as  candidates,  or  if 
students  are  to  be  appointed  as  catechists  or  as  candi- 
dates, they  are  to  undergo  an  examination  respecting 
their  walk,  conversation  and  doctrine. 

5.  All  tu8  licensed  candidates  and  catechists  present 
their  journals,  sermons  and  licenses  to  the  President, 
who  appoints  committees  from  among  the  ordained 
ministers,  to  examine  the  journals  and  sermons,  and 
to  report  thereon  to  the  ministerium. 

6.  After  examination  of  candidates  and  their  perfor- 
mances, they  leave  the  ministerium,  the  committees 
report,  and  the  ministerium  orders  according  to  4>he 
reports  and  the  issue  of  the  examination,     a.  Who  of 
the  candidates  are  to  be  ordained,     b.  Whose  license 
is  to  be  renewred.     c.  Who  are  to  receive  license. — 
d.  What  catechists  shall  receive  the  license  of  candi- 
dates,    e.  What  catechists  are  to  receive  a  renewed 
license,     f.  What  students  are  to  be  appointed  cate- 


276          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

chists,  or  what  ordained  ministers  are  to  be  their  in- 
structors and  advisors,  g.  The  President  then  orders 
the  ordination  certificates  and  licenses  to  be  prepared. 

7.  This  being  done,  the  candidates  and  catechists  are 
again  called  before  the  ministerium,  and  the  President 
announces  a.  to  the  candidates  for  ordination  the  time 
and  place  where  the  solemn  act  is  to  be  performed  ;  b. 
he  solemnly  informs  the  licensed  candidates  of  their  du- 
ties according  to  the  regulation  of  the  ministerium  ;  c. 
he  receives  from  the  candidates  the  solemn  promise  as  in 
the  presence  of  God,  that  they  will  faithfully  perform  the 
duties,  prescribed  to  them.     d.  Upon  this  promise  he 
delivers  the  license  to  each  individual     e.  In  the  same 
manner  he  proceeds  with  the    catechists.     f.  Finally 
he  presents  to  every  newly  received  minister,  candidate 
or  catechist,  a  copy  of  our  liturgy. 

8.  The  ministerium  uses  its  own  seal  for  the  con- 
firmation of  all  ministerial  document^   certificates  of 
ordination,  licenses,  &c. 

9.  All  these  acts  of  the  ministerium  are  to  be  ar- 
ranged, that  sufficient  time  is  left  a.  for  mutual  edifi- 
cation, b.  for  imparting  to  each  other  the  experience 
made  in  the  discharge  of  official  duties,  c.  for  enga- 
ging in  the  consideration  of  such  Bible  truths,  as  the 
circumstances  and  wants  of  the  church  seem  to  re- 
quire, so  that   Theological  knowledge  be  advanced 
among  us,  that  all  may  be  encouraged  in  the  exercise 
of  faithfulness,  and  strengthened  in  faith. 

10.  The  distribution  of  money  to  destitute  widows 
of  ministers  and  aged  indigent  preachers,  if  the  state 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.         277 

of  the  treasury  permits  such  distribution,  is  one  of  the 
last  acts  of  the  ministerium. 

11.  The  meeting  is  finally  closed  by  prayer  of  the 
President  or  Senior. 

CHAP.  viii. —  Of  the  Archives  of  the  ministerium. 

1.  The  Archives  of  the  ministerium  are  to  be  kept 
with  care,  and  not  to  be  transported  without  sufficient 
cause  from  place  to  place. 

2.  All  the  letters,  petitions,  complaints,  directed  to 
Synod  or  the  ministerium,  all  the  answers,  advices, 
arbitrements,   and  lists  of  Synodical  and  ministerial 
meetings  are  to  be  carefully  preserved  in  them. 

3.  The  written  documents  of  each  meeting  are  to  be 
bound  together  in  suitable  form  and  on  the  outside  of 
each  such  package  the  number  of  the  year  is  to  be 
carefully  noted. 

4.  The  pastor  of  the  place,  where  the  Archives  are 
kept,  is  superintendent  over  it,  is  bound  to  keep  it  in 
order  and  to  render  an  account  of  the  same  when  re- 
quired. 

5.  Without  consent  of  Synod  or  the  ministerium  or 
its  officers,  the  superintendent  of  the  Archives  is  not 
permitted  to  loan  out  any  document,  much  less  to  alien- 
ate or  destroy  it. 

CHAP.  ix. —  Of  Special  or  District  meetings. 
1.  Special  meetings  are  to  be  held  by  ministers, 
members  of  the  ministerium,  living  contiguous  td  each 
other,  as  often  as  circumstances  may  require,  and  each 
congregation  under  the  care  of  such  minister  may  send 
a  delegate  to  said  meeting,  having  seat  and  vote.—' 
24* 


278         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

2.  A  chairman  and  Secretary  are  to  be  elected  by 
said  meeting,  who  are  to  attest  the  minutes  and  copies 
of  the  regulations.     Their  office  ceases  with  the  close 
of  the  meeting. 

3.  The  objects  of  such  meetings  are,  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  the  respective  congregations,  and  of  the  Ger- 
man schools  within  the  District ;  to  examine,  decide 
and  determine  the  business  and  occurrences  in  their 
congregations,  that  are  brought  before  them,  provided 
however,  that  each  party  enjoys  the  right  of  appeal  to 
Synod  and  ministerium  from  the  decision  of  the  con- 
ference. 

4.  A  special  meeting  is  not  permitted  under  any 
pretence  whatever,  to  enter  upon  business  belonging 
to  the  ministerium,  as  set  forth  in  Chapter  iii.  §  8  and 
§  9,  and  in  Chapter  vii.  from  §  4  to  §  8,  even  if  the  offi- 
cers of  Synod  were  present.     But  mutual  edification, 
discussions  on  Pastoral   Theology  and  Exegesis   of 
Scripture  ought  to  form  prominent  subjects  of  delibe- 
rations for  these  special  meetings. 

5.  The  acts  of  the  meeting  are  to  be  transmitted  by 
the  chairman  to  the  President  of  the  ministerium,  to  be 
laid  by  him  before  the  next  Synodical  or  ministerial 
meeting. 

Additional  articles  to  this  regulation  of  the  ministerium. 

To  CHAP.  v. — ART.  i. 

§9.  If  an  ordained  member  of  the  ministerium  re- 
moves from  us,  and  enters  into  connexion  with  another 
Evangelical  Lutheran  ministerium  in  the  United  States, 
which  is  acknowledged  by  us  as  such,  said  minister 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.         279 

shall  still  be  entitled  to  seat  and  vote  in  this  ministeri- 
um,  provided  he  acts  in  conformity  to  this  ministerial 
order,  in  as  far  as  this  is  compatible  with  the  duties  he 
owes  the  Synod  with  which  he  has  connected  himself.* 

To  CHAP.  v. — ART.  in. 

The  President  and  Secretary  of  the  ministerium  and 
Synod  may  grant  to  a  candidate  of  Theology,  a 
license  to  perform  such  actus  ministeriales  and  du- 
ties as  are  permitted  to  catechists  to  discharge,  pro- 
vided that  said  candidates  produce  unexceptiona- 
ble testimonials,  and  have  passed  a  satisfactory  exami- 
nation before  the  President.  Such  license  however  is 
only  valid  to  the  next  ministerial  meeting. 

To  CHAP.  vn. 

§  12.  If  any  Evangelical  Lutheran  ministerium  in 
the  United  States,  which  has  been  acknowledged  by 
us  as  such,  but  whose  members  do  not  otherwise 
stand  in  any  close  connexion  with  us,  should  send  a 
delegate  to  our  annual  meeting,  said  delegate  shall  be 
entitled  to  seat  and  vote  in  our  sessions  as  a  regular 
member ;  provided  however,  that  said  ministerium 
grants  us  equal  rights  and  privileges. 

To  CHAP.  vin. 

§6.  Every  member  of  the  ministerium  as  well  as 
every  delegate  of  a  congregation  in  connexion  with 
our  body,  shall  have  free  access  to  the  Archives,  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  superintendent. 

*  We  believe  this  has  been  rescinded,  in  as  much  as  the  Penn- 
sylvania ministerium  have  resolved,  that  an  ordained  minister 
cannot  be  a  member  of  two  Synods. 


APPENDIX  No.  II. 


STATISTICS  OF  THE  AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

Taken  from  the  Minutes  of  the  different  Synods  of  the  latest  dates, 
that  could  be  obtained  in  the  order  of  time,  in  which  the  different 
Synods  have  been  formed. 


««-.     . 

CO 

rd 

'     'Q        M 

Year 

when 

formed. 

i  ij 

^           e 

0)              5 
N                  M 

3 
1« 

8>J       0 

2-g   J§ 

be  w    75 

3      S  |    o| 


1748 

Synod  of  Pennsylvania  1844. 

208 

5170 

2258 

29339 

111  77 

1795 

New  York,         1841. 

38 

1018 

206 

5254 

—  61 

1803 

N.  Carolinia,     1840. 

38 

362 

176 

1886 

—  10 

1818* 

Ohio,                  1840. 

790 

2843 

1439 

18798 

—  83 

1820 

Maryland,          1840. 

52 

941 

451 

5546 

—  37 

1842 

S.  Carolina,      1844. 

40 

469 

413 

2782 

—  21 

1825 

W.  Pennsyl'a.  1843. 

106 

1665 

1812 

11867 

—  92 

1830 

HartwickN.Y.1840. 

21 

338 

308 

3655 

—  17 

1830 

Virginia,            1843. 

39 

248 

296 

1975 

—  76 

1834 

the  West,           1841. 

25 

246 

120 

1172 

—     8 

1840 

EnglishSynod  unconnect-  ( 
ed  with  Synod  of  Ohio,     / 

no  report. 

1842  Synod  of  W.  Virginia,  1844'. 

17 

59 

85 

1044 

—    4 

1844 

"      East  Pennsylvania, 

no  account  received. 

1842 

"       Alleghany,        1844. 

69 

747 

813 

6811 

—  49 

1843 

"      Michigan            

no  account 

received 

843  11106     8467  90629         475 

*The  German  Synod  of  Ohio,  resolved  in  1836,  that  in  as  much 
as  the  boundaries  of  the  Synod  were  too  extensive  for  yearly  Syn- 
odical  meetings,  the  brethren  should  yearly  meet  in  two  divisions 
of  the  Eastern  and  Western  District,  and  permission  was  also  grant- 
ed to  form  an  English  Synod  within  the  bounds  of  the  German 
and  in  connexion  with  the  same.  The  statistics  of  these  three 
District  Synods  are  contained  in  those  of  the  State  Synod,  which 
convenes  every  3rd  year.  The  churches  and  ministers  of  these 
Synods  have  seat  and  vote  in  the  State  Synod. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          281 

The  Synod  of  the  West,  embracing  the  States  of 
Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  have  re- 
solved to  form  three  Synodical  bodies  in  future,  to  be 
styled  the  Synod  of  the  West,  of  Illinois  and  of  Cin- 
cinnati. There  is  perhaps  no  other  ecclesiastical 
body  within  the  bounds  of  the  American  Lutheran 
church,  the  march  of  which  has  been  onward,  as  much 
as  that  of  the  Synod  of  the  West. 

An  account  of  the  separation  of  the  Franckean  Syn- 
od from  that  of  Hartwick  has  been  given,  to  which 
the  reader  is  referred  for  information  on  that  subject. 
This  separation  took  place  in  1837 ;  forty  congrega- 
tions are  in  connexion  with  that  ecclesiastical  body,  in 
1844  they  reported  227  Baptisms,  forty-eight  admis- 
sions to  membership,  and  2321  communicants.  This 
Synod  refuses  communion  with  the  churches,  whose 
members  either  hold  slaves,  or  who  are  not  connected 
with  Temperance  Societies.  [See  their  constitution 
and  the  resolutions  passed  in  session  of  Synod  1844.] 

Besides  the  Synods  mentioned,  there  are  two  other 
ecclesiastical  bodies,  the  origin  of  which  is  to  be  tra- 
ced to  the  disorders,  occasioned  by  David  Henkel  and 
his  followers  in  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina;  an  ac- 
count of  which  has  been  given  in  pages  149  and  150 
of  this  book.  They  style  themselves  the  Synods  of 
Tennessee  and  Indiana.  They  are  opposed  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  Missionary,  Bible,  Tract  and  Temperance 
Societies.  They  stand  in  no  connexion  with  the  other 
Synods  of  the  American  Lutheran  church. 

Benevolent  Societies  exist  in  all  the  acknowledged 
American  Lutheran  Synods ;  many  of  the  members 


282          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

and  ministers  are  in  connexion  with  the  American  Bi- 
ble, Missionary  and  Tract  Societies,  and  in  all  our 
regular  ecclesiastical  bodies  societies  for  the  further- 
ance of  the  cause  of  Christ  have  been  established. 

The  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  has  an  active  Mission- 
ary Society.  Rev.  Mr.  Heyer  is  supported  by  said 
association  as  missionary  at  Guntoor  in  India.  The  re- 
ceipts amounted  in  the  years  1843-'44,  to  $  1800. — 
The  expenses  of  the  missionto  $1600.  Br.  Heyer  had 
ninety  boys  and  twenty-five  girls  in  his  school  during 
said  year.  Several  heathens  had  submitted  to  the  Sa- 
vior, and  the  mission  appears  to  be  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  A  mission-house  has  been  built,  the  centre 
part  of  which  is  two  stories  high,  forty  feet  square.  At 
each  side  are  two  wings,  twenty  feet  by  thirty. 

The  General  Synod  is  also  engaged  in  the  same 
mission,  and  has  sent  Br.  Gunn  to  the  assistance  of 
JBr.  Heyer.  Four  other  missionaries,  the  Brethren  Va- 
lett,  Cortes,  Oaks  and  Swartz  have  been  sent  by  Ger- 
man missionary  societies  as  assistants  to  their  Ameri- 
can brethren.  Missionary  societies  are  in  operation 
in  all  our  acknowledged  Synods,  most  of  them  how- 
ever have  taken  the  Home  missionary  department  for 
the  field  of  their  activity.  At  the  last  session  of  the 
South  Carolina  Synod  a  resolution  was  passed  to  rec- 
ommend to  the  churches  the  formation  of  auxiliary 
missionary  societies  to  the  Synodical  missionary  asso- 
ciation. The  auxiliary  societies  are  to  resolve  whether 
they  desire  their  constitution  to  be  applied  for  home  or 
for  foreign  mission. 


APPENDIX  No.  III. 

Statistical  account  of  the  Theological  Seminaries  of  the 
American  Lutheran  church  and  of  other  Literary  In- 
stitutions in  connexion  with  said  church^  in  the  order 
of  their  establishments. 

1.  HARTWICK  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

Board  of  Directors  twelve.  According  to  the  con- 
stitution of  the  Seminary  the  Directors  are  chosen 
by  Synod ;  they  hold  their  office  for  life  and  supply 
their  own  vacancies.  Eight  of  the  Board  are  to  be 
Lutheran  ministers  and  laymen,  four  are  to  be  selected 
from  the  inhabitants  of  the  Patent. 

Agreeably  to  the  will  of  the  Rev.  John  Christopher 
Hartwig,  who  departed  this  life  in  1796,  there  was  an 
institution  to  be  established  on  his  land  in  Otsego 
county,  Hartwick  township,  for  the  purpose  of  educa- 
ting pious  young  men  for  the  ministry  in  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  church,  and  also  for  the  education  of  In- 
dians in  the  Christian  religion,  to  become  instructors 
of  their  own  people.  After  the  death  of  the  testator, 
the  Honorable  Jeremiah  Van  Ransselaer  as  one  of  the 
executors  of  Mr.  Hartwig's  will,  appointed  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Kunze  Professor  of  the  contemplated  institute, 
who  did  instruct  several  young  men  in  Theology,  who 
afterwards  served  the  Lord  as  preachers  of  the  gospel 
in  the  States  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 


284  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

In  the  year  1815  a  brick  building  of  two  stories, 
forty-five  feet  long  and  thirty-six  deep,  as  also  a  brick 
building  for  the  Professor's  dwelling  were  erected  in 
the  East  part  of  the  township  in  the  beautiful  valley  of 
the  Susquehannah,  four  miles  South  West  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Cooperstown. 

Rev.  Dr.  Ernest  L.  Hazelius  was  chosen  Profes- 
sor, and  served  the  institution  fifteen  years.  Rev.  Dr. 
George  B.  Miller  was  elected  by  the  Board  as  second 
Professor  in  1827 ;  in  which  capacity  he  served  the 
institution  three  years;  when  at  the  removal  of  Dr. 
Hazelius  to  Gettysburg,  Dr.  Miller  was  appointed  first 
Professor,  and  the  Rev.  Charles  B.  Thummel  received 
the  appointment  as  second  Professor,  in  which  capa- 
city he  served  the  Seminary  two  years.  Dr.  Miller 
having  resigned  in  1840,  Rev.  Dr.  William  Strobel 
received  the  appointment  as  first  Professor  and  Messrs. 
JVe^and  Crafts  became  his  assistants.  Dr.  Strobel 
resigned  in  1844  and  Dr.  Miller  was  recalled;  Rev. 
Mr.  Henry  J.  Smith  was  appointed  by  the  Board  as 
second  Professor. 

The  institution  is  divided  into  two  Departments, 
one  Theological,  the  other  classical.  From  1815  to 
1840  forty-eight  students  of  Theology  have  attended 
the  Seminary,  of  whom  three  have  departed ;  four  are 
ministers  in  the  Presbyterian  and  one  in  the  Baptist 
church.  At  present  there  are  four  students  of  Divini- 
ty in  the  institution. 

The  number  of  students  in  the  classical  department 
has  varied  from  forty  to  seventy  during  each  year. — 
One  Indian,  Jacob  Jameson,  has  been  educated  in  the 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  285 

institute.  After  he  left  the  Seminary,  he  studied  Med- 
icine and  graduated  at  the  Medical  college  of  Fairfield 
in  Herkimer  county,  State  of  New  York,  and  received 
an  appointment  as  surgeon  in  one  of  our  national  ves- 
sels of  war,  in  which  service  he  departed  this  life  at 
Algiers  about  the  year  1831. 

2.  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

This  Seminary  owes  its  origin  to  the  laudable  exer- 
tions of  the  three  Synods  of  West  Pennsylvania,  of 
Maryland  and  of  North  Carolina,  and  to  the  liberal, 
donations  of  friends  to  the  American  Lutheran  church 
in  Germany. 

Agreeably  to  its  constitution  [Article  ii.  Section  1.] 
the  Board  of  Directors  shall  be  chosen  by  the  different 
Synods,  who  contribute  pecuniary  aid  to  the  support 
of  the  Seminary,  according  to  its  statutes;  and  who 
are  connected  with  the  General  Synod.  So  soon  as 
any  other  Synod  -shall  enter  into  regular  connexion 
with  the  General  Synod,  it  shall  be  placed  on  an  equal- 
ity with  the  Synods,  which  were  concerned  in  the  orig- 
inal formation  of  the  Seminary ;  that  is,  after  having 
resolved  to  patronize  the  Seminary,  and  after  having 
made  some  contribution  to  its  funds,  each  such  Synod 
shall  be  entitled  to  three  clerical  and  two  lay  Direc- 
tors ;  and  after  its  contribution  shall  amount  to  three 
thousand  and  three  hundred  and  thirty- three  dollars, — 
the  average  sum  paid  by  the  original  Synods  in  making 
up  the  aggregate  of  ten  thousand  dollars, — then,  for 
all  contributions  subsequently  paid  into  the  general 
fund,  each  such  Synod  shall  be  entitled  to  additional 
25 


286         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

Directors  according  to  the  ratio  prescribed  in  statute 
five. 

From  this  statement  it  appears,  that  the  number  of 
Directors  is  not  fixed  by  statute  or  limited  to  a  certain 
number,  but  it  is  increasing  with  the  number  of  Synods 
aiding  in  the  support  of  the  Seminary. 

The  Seminary  went  into  operation  in  autumn  of 
1826. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  S.  Schmucker  is  chairman  of 
the  Faculty  and  Professor  of  Didactic  and  Polemic, 
Homiletic  and  Pastoral  Theology. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  P.  Krauth  Professor  of  Sa- 
cred Theology  and  Exegesis. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Hay,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Biblical 
literature  and  the  German  language. 

According  to  a  statement  lately  published  at  Gettys- 
burg the  number  of  students,  who  have  been  in  con- 
nexion with  the  Seminary  from  its  commencement  in 
1826  to  1844,  amounts  to  190,  eleven  of  whom  have 
departed  this  life.  The  number  of  students  during  the 
past  year  1844,  is  thirty.  Besides  these,  there  are 
about  seventy  others  in  the  literary  institutions  of  Get- 
tysburg, preparing  to  engage  in  Theological  studies. 

The  library  of  the  institution  contains  about  7500 
Volumes,  chiefly  selected  in  Europe,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  valuable  in  the  United  States. 

Tuition  and  use  of  library  gratis.  Boarding  $  1,50 
per  week  in  commons. 

The  regular  course  of  lectures  and  studies  commen- 
ces with  the  fall  session,  which  is  of  course  the  most 
proper  time  to  enter  the  institution. 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          287 

Connected  with  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  is  Penn- 
sylvania college.  This  institution  was  incorporated 
by  the  State  Legislature  in  l831-'32.  A  classical  pre- 
paratory department  existed  some  years  before  the  in- 
corporation of  the  college,  and  continues  in  existence. 
Two  tutors  give  instruction  in  the  same. 

The  Rev.  Dr.   Charles  P.  Krauth  is  President  of 
Pennsylvania  college. 

The  Rev.  Henry  L.  Baugher,  Jl.  M.,  Professor  of 
Greek  Literature. 

Th0  Rev.    William  Reynolds,  Jl.  M.,  Professor  of 
Latin  Literature. 

The  Hev.  Michael  Jacobs ,  Professor  of  chemistry,  &c. 

— a  Professor  of  German  and  French  Liter- 
ature. 

D.  Gilbert,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Anatomy  and  Phys- 
iology. 

Besides  these  Professors,  two  tutors  are  appointed  to 
give  instruction  in  the  classical  department. 

About  one  hundred  and  fifty  students  attend  the  in- 
struction given  in  College, 

In  1841  the  graduating  class  in  college  amounted 
to  forty- three. 

Ji  Medical  Department  is  connected  with  Pennsyl- 
vania college,  located  at  Philadelphia. 

The  following  gentlemen  compose  the  faculty : — 
Samuel  G.  Morton  M.  D.,  George  McClellan  M.  D., 
William  Rush  M.  D.,  Samuel  McClellan  M.  D.,  Wal- 
ter R.  Johnson  A.  M.,  James  McClintock  M.  D. 


288        AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

3.  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  OF  THE  SYNOD  OF  OHIO. 
The  brethren  of  this  Synod  encountered  many  diffi- 
culties in  the  establishment  of  their  Seminary.  Funds 
had  to  be  collected,  opinions  were  divided  in  regard 
to  the  language,  in  which  instruction  was  to  be  given, 
i.  e.  whether  the  institution  should  be  either  an  entirely 
German  institution,  or  whether  the  instruction  should 
be  given  in  the  language  of  our  country.  It  cannot 
be  denied,  that  the  neglect  of  the  German  language  in 
a  Theological  Seminary  of  the  West,  whither  emigra- 
tion from  Germany  is  chiefly  directed,  would  diminish 
the  usefulness  of  the  institution,  and  besides,  in  what 
language  can  the  student  of  Theology  find  more  use- 
ful information  in  regard  to  his  profession,  than  in  that 
of  the  father-land  ?  No  one,  acquainted  with  classical 
and  Theological  works  in  German  and  English,  can 
entertain  a  doubt  on  the  subject.  But  there  is  also  a 
view  to  be  taken  on  the  other  side,  of  all  the  circum- 
stances, that  exercise  an  influence  on  our  church,  peo- 
ple, and  Seminaries.  Our  church  is  American,  our 
people  are  all  American  in  the  second  and  often  the 
first  generation  ;  the  American  character  and  spirit  must 
therefore  pervade  our  institutions,  if  we  desire  them  to 
flourish.  To  attempt  a  description  of  that  character 
and  spirit  in  language,  would  be  found  a  task  beyond 
the  power  of  most  men ;  it  is  unique,  and  the  philoso- 
phy of  Greece,  finds  no  congenial  soil  in  Rome. — 
Whether  that  character  is  favorable  to  progress  in  The- 
ological lore,  is  not  here  to  be  determined,  whatever  it 
is,  we  must  follow  it,  if  we  wish  to  give  our  institu- 
tions a  popular,  that  is,  a  truly  American  name.  Ne- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  289 

cessity  therefore  compels  us,  to  lose  sight  of  many  ad- 
vantages, which  otherwise  a  German  institution  might 
give  to  a  church,  constituted  like  ours.  Another  view 
of  the  case  is  likewise  highly  important,  and  that  is, 
the  shortness  of  time,  during  which  we  can  keep  our 
young  people  at  the  institution.  The  want  of  clergy- 
men everywhere  is  great  indeed,  they  are  called  to  la- 
bor before  their  time  has  terminated  in  the  Seminary ; 
most  of  our  young  friends,  who  devote  themselves  to 
the  service  of  the  church,  are  poor,  and  the  church  has 
to  maintain  them  during  the  years  of  their  study ;  and 
this  church  has  no  permanent  fund  for  that  purpose. 
Hence  a  premature  dismissal  from  the  institution  is  al- 
most a  necessary  consequence.  Should  we  wish  to 
pursue  in  our  Seminaries  a  course,  in  some  measure 
approaching  that  pursued  in  Germany,  time  would  be 
wanting  to  complete  it,  and  unless  completed,  the 
American  course  is  far  preferable.  These  and  many 
othe-r  difficulties  no  doubt  presented  themselves  to  the 
Brethren,  when  the  desire  arose  in  their  Synod  to  es- 
tablish a  Literary  and  Theological  institution  in  their 
midst,  and  consequently  a  diversity  of  sentiment  man- 
ifested itself  on  the  occasion.  They  succeeded  how- 
ever in  the  year  1830  in  forming  a  constitution  and 
electing  a  Board  of  Directors,  consisting  of  clergymen 
and  laymen  in  connexion  with  the  Synod  of  Ohio. — 
The  number  of  Directors  is  — .  As  the  funds  of  the 
institution  were  inconsiderable,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Schmidt, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  had  prosecuted  his  Theo- 
logical studies  in  one  of  the  German  universities,  a 
gentleman  of  high  standing  in  Synod/  offered  his  servi- 


290          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

ces  gratis  for  two  years,  as  instructor  of  the  students. 
Mr.  Schmidt  being  then  pastor  of  the  German  Luthe- 
ran church  at  Canton,  the  Seminary  was  therefore  lo- 
cated at  that  place.  The  brethren  had  formed  that 
institution  in  reliance  on  the  aid  of  Him,  who  had 
blessed  the  faith  of  a  Franke,  when  he  commenced  the 
orphan-house  at  Halle.  The  new  Seminary,  was  to  be 
known  under  the  title  : 
TJie  Theological  Institute  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 

Synod  of  Ohio. 

Its  location  was  removed  a  few  years  after  its  com- 
mencement to  the  city  of  Columbus,  the  capital  of 
the  State ;  buildings  were  erected  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  Professor  and  students ;  instruction  was 
given  in  the  German  language  during  the  time  of 
Professor  Schmidt's  services.  The  Lord  however  cal- 
led him  early  to  his  rest ;  he  departed  this  life  in  the 
year  1839.  In  him  the  institution  was  deprived  of  an 
able  instructor  and  the  Synod  of  an  active  and  zeal- 
ous member.  The  Rev.  Charles  F.  Schaeffer,  JJ.  M., 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Hagerstowri,  Maryland,  was 
elected  to  fill  the  chair  as  Professor  in  the  Ohio  Theo- 
logical institute,  and  in  1842  the  Rev.  Charles  F.  Win- 
kler^  a  gentleman  of  great  learning,  who  had  received 
his  classical  and  Theological  education  at  the  institu- 
tions at  Halle  in  Germany,  and  in  which  he  had  been 
also  engaged  as  instructor,  was  associated  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Schaeffer  as  assistant  Professor.  Some  difficul- 
ties having  arisen  between  the  Professors  of  the  Insti- 
tute, the  causes  of  which  have  not  been  officially  sta- 
ted, the  Rev.  Professor  C.  F.  Schaeffer  resigned  his 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  291 

office  in  1844,  and  it  is  expected,  that  the  state  of  the 
institution  will  engage  the  attention  of  Synod  at  its 
next  meeting.  The  number  of  students  that  have  re- 

o 

ceived  their  education  in  that  Seminary  is  unknown 
to  us. 

4.  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  OF  THE  SYNOD  OF 
SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

This  Seminary  went  into  operation  in  the  month  of 
February,  1831.  During  the  Synodical  session,  in 
Nov.,  1830,  the  Rev.  John  G.  Schwartz  had  been 
elected  Professor  of  the  Institution.  The  permanent 
location  of  the  Seminary  had  been  fixed  at  Lexington 
Court-house,  S.  C.,  but  the  Professor  elect,  having 
several  churches  to  attend  to  at  the  time  of  his  election, 
who  could  riot  be  immediately  supplied  with  a  pastor, 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Newberry  Court-house.  But  it  plea- 
sed the  Lord,  to  remove  his  servant  during  the  summer 
of  1831.  The  exercises  of  the  Seminary  were  thereby 
suspended,  no  provision  having  been  made  for  so  un- 
expected an  occurrence.  In  1833  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ha- 
zelius,  who  had  for  three  years  filled  the  chair  of  Pro- 
fessor of  church  history  and  the  German  language  in 
the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  received  and  accepted 
the  call  as  Professor  of  Theology  in  the  South  Caroli- 
na Institution  ;  and  the  Rev.  Washington  Moller,  a 
graduate  of  South  Carolina  college,  and  Licentiate  of 
the  ministry,  was  elected  Principal  of  the  classical 
school,  in  connexion  with  the  Seminary. 

In  1836  an  agreement  was  entered  into  between  the 


292          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

Synods  of  South  and  North  Carolina  for  the  joint  sup- 
port of  the  Southern  Theological  Seminary.  The  funds 
collected  for  the  Institution  in  the  respective  Synods 
shall  remain  under  the  control  of  these  two  Ecclesias- 
tical bodies,  as  they  have  been  contributed  by  the 
churches  connected  with  the  one  or  the  other  associa- 
tion. The  interests  arising  from  these  funds  are  to  be 
paid  yearly  unto  the  Treasurer  of  the  Seminary,  to  be 
applied  by  him  for  the  benefit  of  that  institution.  The 
government  of  the  Seminary  is  in  the  hands  of  Direc- 
tors, chosen  by  the  united  Synods,  according  to  the 
rates  of  their  respective  funds.  The  number  of  Direc- 
tors is  twelve ;  elected  for  the  term  of  three  years,  four 
of  whom  are  to  go  out  every  year,  whose  places  are  to 
be  supplied  by  Synodical  election.  The  Board  elects 
its  own  officers  yearly,  consisting  of  a  President,  Vice- 
President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  ;  the  latter  is  at  the 
same  time  a  standing  member  of  Synod.  A  commit- 
tee of  the  Board  is  yearly  appointed  to  act  in  connex- 
ion with  the  Professor  or  Professors  in  the  admission 
of  students,  and  the  government  of  the  institution.  This 
committee  meets  quarterly  for  the  transaction  of  busi- 
ness on  the  first  Mondays  in  January,  April,  July  and 
October, — the  Professor  being  chairman.  An  examin- 
ing committee  of  members  of  the  Board  is  likewise 
yearly  appointed  by  Synod,  whose  duty  it  is,  to  attend 
the  Semi-annual  examinations  in  the  Seminary  and  to 
report  the  result  to  Synod. 

In  1840  the  Synod  elected  the  Rev  Christian  Bern- 
hard  Thummel,  who  had  received  his  Theological 
education  at  the  German  universities  at  Halle  and  Tu- 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  k-i93 

bingen,  as  Principal  of  the  Lexington  classical  Insti- 
tute ;  in  which  capacity  he  served  the  Seminary  until 
1844.  Mr.  Simeon  Coughman  is  at  present  Principal 
of  the  Lexington  classical  Institute,  in  which  thirty-six 
scholars  receive  instruction. 

During  the  first  eleven  years  of  the  existence  of  the 
Lutheran  Seminary,  i.  e.  from  autumn  of  1833  to  au- 
tumn of  1844,  thirty-five  students  have  been  in  con- 
nexion with  the  same  ;  twenty-one  of  whom  are  la- 
boring as  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  the  Lutheran  and 
one  in  the  Presbyterian  church ;  three  have  departed 
this  life,  two  are  engaged  as  instructors  of  youths,  and 
eight  are  at  present  engaged  in  Theological  studies  in 
the  Seminary,  and  we  may  add,  that  several  young 
men  are  expected  to  enter  the  institution  shortly.  Tu- 
ition both  in  the  classical  and  the  Theological  depart- 
ment is  gratis  ;  board,  washing,  light,  room,  firewood 
included,  can  be  had  in  respectable  families  at  $8,00 
per  month. 

The  regular  course  of  lectures  and  studies  commen- 
ces with  the  winter  session  on  the  first  Monday  in  the 
month  of  January,  which  consequently  is  the  best  time 
to  enter  the  institution. 

The  library  consists  of  about  1500  volumes,  and 
contains  many  valuable  works,  especially  in  philoso- 
phy, theology  and  encyclopedical  works.  The  use  of 
this  library  is  gratis.  Provisions  have  been  made  for 
a  gradual  increase  of  the  same. 

The  Synod  of  the  West  has  likewise  resolved,  to  es- 
tablish a  Theological  Seminary  within  its  bounds. — 
Preparatory  steps  have  been  taken  for  the  accomplish- 


294  AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

ment  of  this  desirable  object.  A  Board  of  Directors 
has  been  chosen;  agents  have  been  appointed  for  the 
collection  of  funds.  Agreeably  to  the  latest  accounts, 
considerable  sums  have  been  either  collected  or  sub- 
scribed. The  permanent  location  of  the  Institute  as 
well  as  the  appointment  of  the  Professor,  will  doubt- 
less be  subjects  of  serious  reflection  for  the  approach- 
ing Synodical  meeting. 

EMMAU'S  INSTITUTE,  LOCATED  AT  MIDDLETOWN  DAU- 
PHIN COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 
This  institution,  contemplated  and  provided  for, 
by  the  will  of  Mr.  Frey,  has  at  length  gone  into  ope- 
ration. The  object  of  this  Seminary  was,  according 
to  Mr.  Frey's  will,  the  education  of  poor  orphan  chil- 
dren, who  are  to  be  carefully  trained  and  instructed 
in  the  doctrines  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 
After  many  years  of  expensive  and  vexatious  litiga- 
tion, sustained  by  the  Synods  of  Pennsylvania,  against 
collateral  heirs  and  unfaithful  managers,  and  after  a 
lamentable  waste  of  property,  the  residue  of  the  rich 
bequest,  has  been  secured,  and  is  now  under  the  di- 
rection of  a  board  of  Trustees,  composed  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Brown,  M.  D.  Superintendent,  M.  He?idig,  John 
Snyder,  G.  Etler. 

The  property  consists  of  eight  hundred  acres  of  land, 
with  a  grist  and  saw-mill  on  the  Swatara.  The  pres- 
ent income  of  the  land  and  mills  is  $  3000,  and  will 
be  greatly  increased.  A  dwelling  for  the  orphans  has 
been  erected.  This  edifice  is  of  brick,  with  a  hand- 
some portico,  and  is  of  sufficient  size,  to  answer  all  the 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHURCH.  295 

purposes,  for  which  it  was  intended.  Instruction  is 
given  in  the  German  and  English  languages ;  and  the 
charter  has  been  so  altered  by  the  Legislature,  as  to 
permit  the  establishment  of  a  literary  and  scientific  de- 
partment, in  connection  with  the  orphan-house,  in 
which  all  the  branches  of  modern  learning  are  to  be 
taught.  The  Principal  of  the  Institution  was  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Sprecher,  in  the  year  1841. 

This  account  of  the  Emmaus  Institute  is  taken  from 
the  Lutheran  Almanac  for  the  year  1842.  Since  that 
time  several  statements  in  the  Lutheran  Observer,  ed- 
ited by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz,  give  the  intel- 
ligence, that  the  state  of  the  institution  is  not  flourish- 
ing. 


APPENDIX  No.  II. 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  SYNOD. 

JESUS  CHRIST,  the  Supreme  Head  of  His  Church,  having  pre- 
scribed no  entire  and  specific  directory  for  government  and  disci- 
pline, and  every  section  of  His  Church  being  left  at  full  liberty  to 
make  such  additional  regulations  to  that  effect,  as  maybe  best  ad- 
apted to  its  situation  and  circumstances,  therefore — Relying  upon 
God  our  Father,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  under  the 
guidance  and  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  Word  of  God, 
for  the  promotion  of  the  practice  of  brotherly  love,  to  the  further- 
ance of  Christian  concord,  to  the  firm  establishment  and  continu- 
ance of  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace — We,  the 
Deputies  of  the  "  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  neighboring  States,  "  of  the  "  German  and  Eng- 
lish Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
and  the  bordering  States, "  of  the  "  Evangelical  Lutheran  Minis- 
terium  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  the  neighboring  States  and 
Countries,"  and  of  the  "Evangelical  Luthran  Synod  of  Mary- 
land and  Virginia,  &c. "  for  ourselves  and  successors,  do  adopt 
the  following  fundamental  Articles,  viz.  : 

ARTICLE  i. 

The  name,  style  and  title  of  this  Convention  shall  be,  "  The 
Evangelical  Lutheran  General  Synod  of  the  United  States  of 
North  America. " 

ARTICLE  n. 

The  General  Synod  shall  consist  of  the  Deputies  from  the  sev- 
eral Evangelical  Lutheran  Synodical  Conventions  in  the  United 
States,  who  may  join  themselves  thereunto,  and  be  duly  acknowl- 
edged as  members  thereof,  in  the  following  ratio,  viz. : 


AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.          297 

Every  Synodical  body,  or  Synod  ( whether  of  ministers  only,  or 
of  ministers  and  lay-deputies  together )  containing  six  ministers, 
may  send  two ;  if  it  contains  fourteen,  three  ;  if  twenty-five, 
four  ;  if  forty,  five  ;  if  sixty,  six ;  and  if  it  contains  eighty-six 
ministers  or  upwards,  seven  deputies,  of  the  rank  of  ordained 
ministers,  and  an  equal  number  of  lay-deputies. 

Each  Deputy,  appearing  in  the  General  Synod  according  to 
this  ratio,  shall,  except  as  hereinafter  provided,  enjoy  an  equal 
right  and  vote  with  all  others.  Every  Synod  may  choose  its  Dep- 
uties in  such  a  way  and  manner  as  to  them  may  seem  proper  ,-  and 
shall  pay  the  travelling  expenses  of  the  same,  to  and  from  the 
General  Synod  until  the  General  Synod  shall  have  established  for 
itself  a  treasury  from  which  the  future  expenses  may  be  dis- 
charged. 

ARTICLE  in. 

The  business  of  the  General  Synod  shall  be  as  follows,  viz.  : 

SEC.  I.  The  General  Synod  shall  examine  the  proceedings  of 
the  several  Synods  and  Ministeriums  belonging  to  this  association, 
in  order  that  they  may  obtain  some  knowledge  of  the  existing 
state  and  condition  of  the  Church.  The  several  Synods,  there- 
fore, shall  transmit  as  many  copies  of  their  proceedings  to  the 
General  Synod,  as  there  shall  be  members  contained  in  the  Gene- 
ral Synod. 

SEC.  II.  Whenever  the  General  Synod  shall  deem  it  proper 
or  necessary,  they  may  propose  to  the  special  Synods  or  ministe- 
riums,  new  books  or  writings,  such  as  catechisms,  forms  of  litur- 
gy, collections  of  hymns  for  general  or  special  public  use  in  the 
church.  Every  proposal  of  the  kind,  the  several  or  respective 
Synods  may  duly  consider  ;  and  if  they,  or  any  of  them,  shall  be 
of  opinion,  that  the  said  book  or  books,  writing  or  writings,  will 
not  conduce  to  the  end  proposed,  they  may  reject  them,  and 
adopt  such  liturgical  books  as  they  may  think  proper. 

But  no  General  Synod  can  be  allowed  to  possess  or  arrogate 
unto  itself  "the  power  of  prescribing  among  us  uniform  ceremo- 
nies of  religion  for  every  part  of  the  Church,"  or  to  introduce 
such  alterations  in  matters  appertaining  to  the  faith,  or  to  the 
mode  of  publishing  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  (the  Son  of  God 
and  ground  of  oui  faith  and  hope, )  as  might  in  any  way  tend  to 
burden  the  consciences  of  the  brethren  in  Christ. 

SEC.  III.  All  regularly  constituted  Lutheran  Synods,  holding 
the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Bible  as  taught  by  our  Church, 
not  now  in  connection  with  the  General  Synod,  may,  at  any  time, 
become  associated  with  it,  by  adopting  this  Constitution,  and 
sending  Delegates  to  its  Convention,  according  to  the  ratio  spe- 
cified in  Art.  2. 

SEC.  IV.  With  regard  to  the  grades  in  the  ministry,  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  may  give  to  the  several  Ministeriums  their  deliberate 
26 


298         AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

advice,  wherein  the  circumstances  of  time,  place  and  condition 
must  be  duly  contemplated,  and  a  beneficial  uniformity,  and  ac- 
tual equality,  of  rank  among  the  several  ministers,  must,  as  much 
as  possible,  be  had  in  view.  The  General  Synod  shall  also  ad- 
vise such  rules  and  regulations  among  the  several  Synods  and 
Ministeriums,  as  may  prevent  unpleasant  and  unfriendty  collis- 
ions, that  might  otherwise  arise  out  of  any  difference  of  grades 
existing  among  them,  or  from  any  other  posssible  causes. 

SEC.  V.  The  General  Synod  shall  not  be  looked  upon  as  a 
tribunal  of  appeal ;  it  may,  however,  be  employed  in  the  follow- 
ing cases,  and  after  the  following  manner: 

1.  The  General  Synod  may  give  advice  or  opinion,  when  com- 
plaints shall  be  brought  before  them,  by  whole  Synods,  Ministe- 
riums,  Congregations,  or  individual  ministers,  concerning  doc- 
trine or  discipline.     They  shall,  however,  be  extremely  careful, 
that  the  consciences  of  ministers  of  the  gospel  be  not  burdened 
with  human  inventions,  laws  or  devices,  and  that  no  one  be  op- 
pressed by  reason  of  differences  of  opinion  on  non- fundamental 
doctrines. 

2.  If  parties,  differing  in  matters  of  doctrine  and  discipline,  refer 
the  cause  of  difference,  in  a  brotherly  manner  to  the  General  Syn- 
od, they  shall  institute  a  close  and  exact  scrutiny  and  examina- 
tion thereof,  and  give  their  opinion  on  the  subject  of  difference, 
according  to  their  best  insight  of  right,  equity,  brotherly  love,  and 
truth. 

3.  If  differences  between  Synods  be  referred,  the  votes  thereon 
shall  be  taken  by  Synods,  and  the  referring  Synods  shall  have  no 
vote. 

SEC.  VI.  The  General  Synod  may  devise  plans  for  Seminaries 
of  Education  and  Missionary  Institutions,  as  well  as  for  the  aid 
of  poor  ministers,  their  widows  and  orphans,  and  endeavor, 
with  the  help  of  God,  to  carry  them  into  effect. 

SEC.  VII.  The  General  Synod  may  also  institute  and  create  a 
treasury,  for  the  effectual  advancement  of  its  purposes. 

SEC.  VIII.  The  general  Synod  shall  apply  all  their  powers, 
their  prayers  and  their  means,  towards  the  prevention  of  schisms 
among  us  ;  be  sedulously  and  incessantly  regardful  of  the  circum- 
stances of  the  times,  and  of  every  casual  rise  and  progress  of  unity 
of  sentiment  among  Christians  in  general,  in  order  that  the  blessed 
opportunities  to  promote  concord  and  unity,  and  the  interests  of 
the  Redeemer' s  kingdom  may  not  pass  by  neglected  and  unavailing. 

ARTICLE  iv. 

The  General  Synod  shall  choose  from  among  their  own  number 
a  President  and  a  Secretary  ;  and  from  among  their  own  number 
or  elsewhere,  as  soon  as  it  may  be  necessary,  a  Treasurer.  They 
shall  continue  in  office  until  the  next  succeeding  convention. — 


AMERICAN    LUTHERAN    CHtJRCH. 

The  same  person  is  at  all  times  re-eligible  as  Secretary  or  Treas- 
urer ;  but  no  one  may  be  elected  President  more  than  two  con- 
ventions in  succession,  and  the  same  person  cannot  thereafter  be 
elected  for  the  two  successively  following  conventions. 

SEC.  I.  The  President  shall  act  as  chairman  of  the  convention. 
He  may  make  motions,  give  his  opinion,  and  vote  like  every  other 
member.  With  the  consent  and  concurrence  of  the  minister  of 
the  place  where  the  convention  is  held,  he  shall  appoint  the  sev- 
eral preachers  during  the  convention.  He  shall  subscribe  all  let- 
ters, written  advices,  resolutions  and  proceedings  of  the  Synod. — 
In  extraordinary  cases,  and  by  request  of  any  one  of  the  acknowl- 
edged Synods,  made  known  to  him  in  the  form  of  a  Synodical  or 
Ministerial  resolution,  he  may  call  together  special  conventions 
of  the  General  Synod.  In  case  the  business  of  the  Secretary  be- 
comes too  burdensome  for  one  person  to  execute,  he  shall,  with  the 
concurrence  of  the  Secretary,  appoint  an  assistant  Secretary,  and 
make  known  to  him  what  portions  of  the  labors  he  ought  to  under- 
take. 

SEC.  II.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  journal  of  the  proceedings, 
write,  attest,  take  care  of  all  the  documents  and  writings,  make 
known  the  time  and  place  of  the  convention,  through  the  medium 
of  the  public  prints,  at  least  three  months  beforehand,  and  in  the 
special  or  extraordinary  cases  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  section, 
he  shall  give  written  notice  thereof  to  each  of  the  special  Synods 
or  Ministeriums. 

SEC.  III.  If  the  President  or  Secretary,  in  the  intermediate 
time  between  the  conventions,  depart  this  life,  resign  his  office,  or 
become  incapable  of  executing  the  same,  the  next  in  office  shall 
take  his  place  and  perform  his  duties  ,  if  it  be  the  Treasurer,  then 
the  President  shall  appoint  another  Treasurer  ad  interim  in  his 
stead. 

SEC.  IV.  The  Treasurer  shall  keep  account  of  the  receipts 
and  expenditures  of  the  Synod.  He  shall  give  receipts  for  all 
monies  put  into  his  hands.  He  shall  not  pay  any  monies  out  of 
his  hands  but  by  order  of  the  President,  attested  by  the  Secreta- 
ry, in  pursuance  of  a  resolution  of  the  Synod  to  that  effect.  At 
every  convention  of  the  Synod  he  shall  render  account, 

ARTICLE  v. 

The  course  of  business  shall  be  conducted  as  follows,  viz. : 
1  The  deputies  shall  give  personal  notice  of  their  arrival  to 
the  minister  of  the  place,  or  if  the  congregation  be  destitute  of  a 
minister,  to  any  other  person  appointed  by  the  congregation  for 
the  purpose,  who  shall  make  known  to  them  their  place  of  resi- 
dence, and  the  place  where  the  session  shall  be  held. 

2.  At  9  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the  first  week-day  of  the  time 
of  convention,  the  session  shall  begin  and  be  opened  with  prayer. 


300          AMERICAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

3.  The  President  elected  by  the  former  convention,  shall  act 
as  chairman  till  another  President  be  chosen.     In  case  of  his  ab- 
sence, the  persons  present,  may,  on  motion  made  and  seconded, 
appoint  another  in  his  stead. 

4.  The  members  shall  give  in  to  the  chairman  their  attestations 
or  certificates.     For  all  the  deputies  from  any  one  particular  Syn- 
od, one  certificate,  signed  by  the  President  and  attested  by  the 
Secretary  of  that  Synod,  shall  be  deemed  sufficient,  and  all  the 
members  of  the  same  Synod  shall  sit  together. 

5.  If  a  majority  of  the  deputies  of  a  majority  of  the  Synods  at- 
tached to  the  General  Synod,  be  present,  the  business  shall  go 
on.  If  this  proportion  be  lacking,  the  members  present  may  from 
time  to  time,  postpone  the  session  of  the  convention. 

6.  The  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  shall  be  elected  by 
ballot,  on  the  first  day  of  the  session,  and  so  soon  as  the  members 
shall  have  given  in  their  certificates. 

7.  The  proceedings  of  the  former  convention  shall  be  read  by 
the  Secretary. 

8.  Hereupon  follow  the  several  portions  of  business  accord- 
ing to  Article  III,  section  for  section. 

9.  Now  other  mixed  motions  may  be  made,  concerning  the 
subjects  already  discussed,  or  any  other  matters  that  may  occur. 

10.  In  conclusion,  the  General  Synod  shall  appoint,  by  ballot, 
the  time  and  place  of  the  next  convention,  observing  at  all  times, 
however,  that  one  convention,  at  least,  be  held  every  three  years. 

ARTICLE  v. 

The  General  Synod  may  make  whatever  by-laws  they  may 
deem  necessary  ;  provided  only,  that  the  said  by-laws  do  not  con- 
tradict the  spirit  of  the  Constitution. 

No  alteration  of  this  Constitution  may  be  made,  except  by  the 
consent  of  two-thirds  of  the  Synods  attached  to  this  Convention; 
an  exact  copy  of  the  intended  alterations  to  be  sent  by  the  Secre- 
tary to  all  the  Presidents  of  the  District  Synods  in  connection  with 
this  body,  with  the  request,  that  they  would  lay  them  before  their 
respective  Synods  for  decision. 

Signed  October  24th,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1820. 
Of  Pennsylvania: 

J.    GEO.    SCHMUCKER,  GEO.    LOCHMAN,  CflR.    KlJNKEL, 

F.  W.  GEISSENHAINER,       CHRISTIAN  ENDRESS,    WM    HENSEL, 

H.    A.   MUHLENBERG,  PETER   STICHTER. 

Of  New  York: 

F.  C.  SCHAEFFER,  PH.  F.  MAYER. 

Of  North  Carolina: 

PETER  SCIIMUCKER,  GOTTL.  SCHOBER. 

Of  Maryland: 

D.  F.  SCHAEFFER,  DANIEL  KURTZ,  GEO.  SCHRYOCK. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROMWHICH  BORROW 

LOAN  DEPT. 


StP — 8T5ST 


"85$$$*? 


YA  04127 


